Autonomous uplink with analog beams

ABSTRACT

A base station may configure a set of autonomous uplink (AUL) resources for a specific base station receive beam, or the AUL resources may be configured for specific user equipment (UEs) or user groups. Additionally, the AUL resources may be configured to include a sensing portion, a data portion, or both. As an example, a UE may receive an AUL configuration that includes an indication of a set of AUL resources that are specific to a base station receive beam. The UE may then determine that the set of AUL resources is available and perform an AUL transmission of uplink data using the set of beam-specific AUL resources. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may perform the AUL transmission with respective portions that include a sensing signal and the uplink data. The base station may use the sensing signal to determine a receive beam on which to receive the uplink data.

CROSS REFERENCES

The present application for patent claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/624,229 by Bhattad et al.,entitled “AUTONOMOUS UPLINK WITH ANALOG BEAMS,” filed Jan. 31, 2018,assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The following relates generally to wireless communication, and morespecifically to autonomous uplink (AUL) with analog beams.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable ofsupporting communication with multiple users by sharing the availablesystem resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of suchmultiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such asLong Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, orLTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may bereferred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employtechnologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discreteFourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-accesscommunications system may include a number of base stations or networkaccess nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiplecommunication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment(UE).

In some wireless communications systems, wireless devices (e.g., basestations, UEs, etc.) may communicate using directional transmissions(e.g., beams), in which beamforming techniques may be applied using oneor more antenna elements to form a beam in a particular direction. Insuch systems, a base station may schedule uplink transmissions for a UEon a set of resources, and the base station may then listen in adirection of the UE's scheduled transmission, for example, by forming areceive beam in that direction. However, in the case of AUL (e.g.,grantless or unscheduled) transmissions, the base station may not beaware of the direction (and corresponding receive beam) in which tolisten for the UE's directional transmission, resulting in missed uplinkdata and inefficiencies in managing AUL transmissions from the UE.

SUMMARY

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices,or apparatuses that support autonomous uplink (AUL) with analog beams.Generally, the described techniques provide for the configuration ofresources for AUL transmissions by a user equipment (UE). For example, abase station may configure a set of AUL resources for a specific basestation receive beam, or AUL resources may be configured for specificUEs or user groups. Additionally, the AUL resources may be configured toinclude different portions, such as a sensing portion (e.g., includingan AUL indicator), a data portion, or both. The use of the configuredAUL resources may enable AUL transmissions by a UE with minimaloverhead, and the base station may efficiently determine a receive beamfor receiving uplink data from the UE in accordance with the AULconfiguration.

As an example, a UE may receive an AUL configuration that includes anindication of a set of AUL resources that are specific to an AUL receivebeam at a base station. The UE may then determine that the set of AULresources is available and perform an AUL transmission of uplink data tothe base station using the set of beam-specific AUL resources. Becausethe set of AUL resources may be specific to an AUL receive beam, thebase station may receive the AUL transmission in accordance with the AULconfiguration (e.g., on the base station receive beam corresponding tothe AUL resources). Additionally or alternatively, after receiving aUE-specific AUL configuration, the UE may perform an AUL transmissionthat includes a first portion including a sensing signal and a secondportion including the uplink data. The base station may then use thesensing signal to determine a suitable receive beam to receive theuplink data in the AUL transmission. In some examples, the UE mayreceive a trigger signal from the base station that indicates whetherthe set of AUL resources are available for an AUL transmission.

A method for wireless communication is described. The method may includereceiving, from a base station, an AUL configuration including anindication of a set of AUL resources for a UE, where the set of AULresources is specific to an AUL receive beam of the base station,identifying uplink data for an AUL transmission to the base station,determining whether the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablefor the AUL transmission by the UE, and performing an AUL transmissionof the uplink data to the base station using the set of beam-specificAUL resources based on a determination that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission.

An apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatus mayinclude means for receiving, from a base station, an AUL configurationincluding an indication of a set of AUL resources for a UE, where theset of AUL resources is specific to an AUL receive beam of the basestation, means for identifying uplink data for an AUL transmission tothe base station, means for determining whether the set of beam-specificAUL resources is available for the AUL transmission by the UE, and meansfor performing an AUL transmission of the uplink data to the basestation using the set of beam-specific AUL resources based on adetermination that the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablefor the AUL transmission.

Another apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatusmay include a processor, memory in electronic communication with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions maybe operable to cause the processor to receive, from a base station, anAUL configuration including an indication of a set of AUL resources fora UE, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AUL receive beamof the base station, identify uplink data for an AUL transmission to thebase station, determine whether the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesis available for the AUL transmission by the UE, and perform an AULtransmission of the uplink data to the base station using the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources based on a determination that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmission.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless communication isdescribed. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may includeinstructions operable to cause a processor to receive, from a basestation, an AUL configuration including an indication of a set of AULresources for a UE, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AULreceive beam of the base station, identify uplink data for an AULtransmission to the base station, determine whether the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmission by theUE, and perform an AUL transmission of the uplink data to the basestation using the set of beam-specific AUL resources based on adetermination that the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablefor the AUL transmission.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for receiving, from a base station, atrigger signal associated with the set of beam-specific AUL resources.Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for determining that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources may be available for the AUL transmission bya UE based on the trigger signal, where the AUL transmission may beperformed based on the received trigger signal.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, determining that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources may be available for the AUL transmissionincludes determining that the set of beam-specific AUL resources may beavailable based on a signal strength of the trigger signal satisfying athreshold.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, determining that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources may be available for the AUL transmissionincludes determining that the set of beam-specific AUL resources may beavailable for the AUL transmission based on the presence of a triggersignal or an absence of the trigger signal.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, determining that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources may be available for the AUL transmissionincludes decoding the trigger signal. Some examples of the method,apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described hereinmay further include processes, features, means, or instructions fordetermining that the set of beam-specific AUL resources may be availablefor the AUL transmission based on the decoding.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the trigger signal includesone or more of: radio resource control (RRC) messaging, downlink controlinformation (DCI), downlink messaging, a physical downlink controlchannel (PDCCH), a reference signal, or signaling within asynchronization signal burst.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the PDCCH indicates a subsetof AUL resources that may be available within the set of beam-specificAUL resources. In some examples of the method, apparatus, andnon-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the PDCCHindicates a second trigger signal associated with the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources, where the second trigger signal may be usedto determine whether the set of beam-specific AUL resources may beavailable for the AUL transmission by the UE.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the second trigger signalincludes a second reference signal, or signaling within asynchronization signal burst, or a combination thereof. In some examplesof the method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable mediumdescribed herein, the set of beam-specific AUL resources may be timedivision multiplexed (TDM) with a second set of AUL resources, where thesecond set of AUL resources may be specific to a second AUL receive beamof the base station.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the AUL transmission includesa first portion and a second portion, the first portion beingnon-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AUL resources and thesecond portion at least partially overlapping with the second set of AULresources, where the second set of AUL resources may be specific to asecond AUL receive beam of the base station.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, performing the AULtransmission may include transmitting the uplink data within the firstportion and the second portion, and transmitting an AUL indicator withinthe first portion, where the AUL indicator may be multiplexed with theuplink data. In some examples of the method, apparatus, andnon-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the AULindicator serves as a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) for theuplink data.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the AUL indicator includestransmission information including an indication of a priority of theuplink data, a waveform for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), amodulation and coding scheme (MCS), a redundancy version (RV), atime/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent uplink datatransmission, UE identity information, transmit beam information, anindication of a preferred receive beam to be used to receive AULtransmissions, or a combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the transmission informationmay be at least partially carried through a scrambling code associatedwith the AUL indicator, an orthogonal cover code associated with the AULindicator, a cyclic shift associated with the AUL indicator, a frequencycomb associated with the AUL indicator, or a combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, receiving the AULconfiguration includes: receiving one or more of: an RRC messageconstituting the AUL configuration, a DCI constituting the AULconfiguration, or a trigger signal constituting the AUL configuration.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the AUL configurationincludes a trigger signal configuration, the trigger signalconfiguration used to determine time/frequency resources associated witha trigger signal and to process the trigger signal. In some examples ofthe method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable mediumdescribed herein, the AUL receive beam includes a millimeter wave (mmW)communications beam.

A method for wireless communication is described. The method may includeidentifying a set of AUL resources for a UE, determining an AULconfiguration for the set of AUL resources and one or more AUL receivebeams of a base station, where the set of AUL resources is specific toan AUL receive beam of the base station, transmitting, to the UE, theAUL configuration including an indication of the set of beam-specificAUL resources, and receiving an AUL transmission from the UE inaccordance with the AUL configuration, where the AUL transmission isreceived using the set of beam-specific AUL resources and the AULreceive beam.

An apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatus mayinclude means for identifying a set of AUL resources for a UE, means fordetermining an AUL configuration for the set of AUL resources and one ormore AUL receive beams of a base station, where the set of AUL resourcesis specific to an AUL receive beam of the base station, means fortransmitting, to the UE, the AUL configuration including an indicationof the set of beam-specific AUL resources, and means for receiving anAUL transmission from the UE in accordance with the AUL configuration,where the AUL transmission is received using the set of beam-specificAUL resources and the AUL receive beam.

Another apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatusmay include a processor, memory in electronic communication with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions maybe operable to cause the processor to identify a set of AUL resourcesfor a UE, determine an AUL configuration for the set of AUL resourcesand one or more AUL receive beams of a base station, where the set ofAUL resources is specific to an AUL receive beam of the base station,transmit, to the UE, the AUL configuration including an indication ofthe set of beam-specific AUL resources, and receive an AUL transmissionfrom the UE in accordance with the AUL configuration, where the AULtransmission is received using the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesand the AUL receive beam.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless communication isdescribed. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may includeinstructions operable to cause a processor to identify a set of AULresources for a UE, determine an AUL configuration for the set of AULresources and one or more AUL receive beams of a base station, where theset of AUL resources is specific to an AUL receive beam of the basestation, transmit, to the UE, the AUL configuration including anindication of the set of beam-specific AUL resources, and receive an AULtransmission from the UE in accordance with the AUL configuration, wherethe AUL transmission is received using the set of beam-specific AULresources and the AUL receive beam.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, transmitting the AULconfiguration includes: transmitting one or more of: a RRC messageconstituting the AUL configuration, DCI constituting the AULconfiguration, or a trigger signal constituting the AUL configuration.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for determining that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources may be available for AUL transmissions bythe UE. Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for transmitting a trigger signalincluding an indication that the set of beam-specific AUL resources maybe available for the AUL transmissions based on the determination thatthe set of beam-specific AUL resources may be available.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for transmitting the trigger signalusing a transmit beam corresponding to the AUL receive beam. In someexamples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readablemedium described herein, the trigger signal includes RRC messaging, DCI,downlink messaging, a PDCCH, a reference signal, a synchronizationsignal burst, or a combination thereof.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for transmitting, within the AULconfiguration, a trigger signal configuration, where the trigger signalconfiguration includes an indication of time/frequency resourcesassociated with a trigger signal and information for processing thetrigger signal.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for configuring the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources to be time division multiplexed with asecond set of AUL resources, where the second set of AUL resources maybe specific to a second AUL receive beam of the base station.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for configuring the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources to include a first portion and a secondportion, the first portion being non-overlapping with a portion of asecond set of AUL resources and the second portion at least partiallyoverlapping with the second set of AUL resources, where the second setof AUL resources may be specific to a second AUL receive beam of thebase station.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the UE, an AULindicator within the first portion of the AUL transmission, where theAUL indicator may be multiplexed with the uplink data in the firstportion of the set of beam-specific AUL resources.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the AUL indicator includes anindication of a priority of the uplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, anMCS, an RV, a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent uplinkdata transmission, UE identity information, transmit beam information,an indication of a preferred receive beam to be used to receive AULtransmissions, or a combination thereof.

A method for wireless communication is described. The method may includereceiving, from a base station, an AUL configuration including anindication of a set of AUL resources for a UE, identifying uplink datafor an AUL transmission to a base station, and performing the AULtransmission using the set of AUL resources, where a first portion ofthe AUL transmission includes a sensing signal and a second portion ofthe AUL transmission includes the uplink data.

An apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatus mayinclude means for receiving, from a base station, an AUL configurationincluding an indication of a set of AUL resources for a UE, means foridentifying uplink data for an AUL transmission to the base station, andmeans for performing the AUL transmission using the set of AULresources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission includes asensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission includes theuplink data.

Another apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatusmay include a processor, memory in electronic communication with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions maybe operable to cause the processor to receive, from a base station, anAUL configuration including an indication of a set of AUL resources fora UE, identify uplink data for an AUL transmission to the base station,and perform the AUL transmission using the set of AUL resources, where afirst portion of the AUL transmission includes a sensing signal and asecond portion of the AUL transmission includes the uplink data.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless communication isdescribed. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may includeinstructions operable to cause a processor to receive, from a basestation, an AUL configuration including an indication of a set of AULresources for a UE, identify uplink data for an AUL transmission to thebase station, and perform the AUL transmission using the set of AULresources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission includes asensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission includes theuplink data.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, performing the AULtransmission includes: performing the AUL transmission with one or morerepetitions of the uplink data on the set of AUL resources. In someexamples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readablemedium described herein, performing the AUL transmission includes:performing the AUL transmission with one or more reference signalswithin the first portion of the AUL transmission, the sensing signalconstituting the one or more reference signals.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the one or more referencesignals comprise a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a DMRS, or acombination thereof. In some examples of the method, apparatus, andnon-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the firstportion of the AUL transmission may be time division multiplexed withthe second portion, and where the uplink data includes one or moreadditional reference signals.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for receiving, in response to thetransmitted sensing signal, a trigger signal including an indicationthat the set of AUL resources may be available for AUL transmissions bythe UE. Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for performing the AUL transmissionbased on the received trigger signal.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the trigger signal includes asensing resource identifier, UE identity information, a beam identity,uplink resource allocation corresponding to a set of beams, a waveformto use for a PUSCH, or a combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the sensing signal includesan AUL indicator that includes transmission information including anindication of a priority of the uplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, anMCS, an RV, a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent datatransmission, UE identity information, transmit beam information, anindication of a receive beam to be used to receive the AUL transmission,or a combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the transmission informationmay be at least partially carried through a scrambling code associatedwith the AUL indicator, an orthogonal cover code associated with the AULindicator, a cyclic shift associated with the AUL indicator, a frequencycomb associated with the AUL indicator, or a combination thereof.

A method for wireless communication is described. The method may includetransmitting, to a UE, an AUL configuration including an indication of aset of AUL resources for the UE, receiving, from the UE, an AULtransmission on the set of AUL resources, where a first portion of theAUL transmission includes a sensing signal and a second portion of theAUL transmission includes uplink data, and determining an AUL receivebeam for receiving the second portion of the AUL transmission, the AULreceive beam corresponding to the set of AUL resources, where the AULreceive beam is determined based on the sensing signal.

An apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatus mayinclude means for transmitting, to a UE, an AUL configuration includingan indication of a set of AUL resources for the UE, means for receiving,from the UE, an AUL transmission on the set of AUL resources, where afirst portion of the AUL transmission includes a sensing signal and asecond portion of the AUL transmission includes uplink data, and meansfor determining an AUL receive beam for receiving the second portion ofthe AUL transmission, the AUL receive beam corresponding to the set ofAUL resources, where the AUL receive beam is determined based on thesensing signal.

Another apparatus for wireless communication is described. The apparatusmay include a processor, memory in electronic communication with theprocessor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions maybe operable to cause the processor to transmit, to a UE, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE, receive, from the UE, an AUL transmission on the set of AULresources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission includes asensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission includesuplink data, and determine an AUL receive beam for receiving the secondportion of the AUL transmission, the AUL receive beam corresponding tothe set of AUL resources, where the AUL receive beam is determined basedon the sensing signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless communication isdescribed. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may includeinstructions operable to cause a processor to transmit, to a UE, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE, receive, from the UE, an AUL transmission on the set of AULresources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission includes asensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission includesuplink data, and determine an AUL receive beam for receiving the secondportion of the AUL transmission, the AUL receive beam corresponding tothe set of AUL resources, where the AUL receive beam is determined basedon the sensing signal.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for monitoring for one or more sensingsignals corresponding to a set of AUL beams, where a plurality of beamdirections may be monitored in the first portion of the AULtransmission. Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for determining the AUL receive beamfor receiving the second portion of the AUL transmission based on themonitoring.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for monitoring for one or more sensingsignals corresponding to a set of AUL beams, where a different beamdirection may be monitored in respective time division multiplexedportions of the AUL transmission. Some examples of the method,apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described hereinmay further include processes, features, means, or instructions fordetermining the AUL receive beam for receiving the second portion of theAUL transmission based on the monitoring.

Some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further include processes,features, means, or instructions for transmitting, in response to thereceived sensing signal, a trigger signal including an indication thatthe set of AUL resources may be available for AUL transmissions. Someexamples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readablemedium described herein may further include processes, features, means,or instructions for receiving the AUL transmission based on thetransmitted trigger signal.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the trigger signal may betransmitted using a transmit beam that corresponds to the AUL receivebeam for receiving the second portion of the AUL transmission. In someexamples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readablemedium described herein, the trigger signal includes a sensing resourceidentifier, UE identify information, a beam identity, uplink resourceallocation corresponding to a set of beams, a waveform to use for aPUSCH, or a combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the AUL transmission includesone or more repetitions of the uplink data on the set of AUL resources.In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the sensing signal includesone or more reference signals transmitted within the first portion ofthe AUL transmission. In some examples of the method, apparatus, andnon-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the firstportion of the AUL transmission may be time division multiplexed withthe second portion, and where the uplink data includes one or moreadditional reference signals.

In some examples of the method, apparatus, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the sensing signal includesan AUL indicator that includes transmission information including anindication of a priority of the uplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, anMCS, an RV, a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent datatransmission, UE identity information, transmit beam information, anindication of a receive beam to be used to receive the AUL transmission,or a combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system thatsupports autonomous uplink (AUL) with analog beams in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of AUL resource configurations in asystem that supports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of AUL resource configurations in asystem that supports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a process flow in a system thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 6 through 8 show block diagrams of a device that supports AUL withanalog beams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a system including a userequipment (UE) that supports AUL with analog beams in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10 through 12 show block diagrams of a device that supports AULwith analog beams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of a system including a base stationthat supports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 14 through 19 illustrate methods for AUL with analog beams inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some wireless communication systems may operate in millimeter wave (mmW)frequency ranges, e.g., 28 gigahertz (GHz), 40 GHz, 60 GHz. Wirelesscommunication at these frequencies may be associated with increasedsignal attenuation (e.g., path loss), which may be influenced by variousfactors, such as temperature, barometric pressure, diffraction, etc. Asa result, transmissions may be beamformed to overcome the path lossexperienced at these frequencies. Wireless devices within such systemsmay accordingly communicate via these directional beams (e.g.,beamformed for transmission and reception using an antenna array at thewireless device). For example, a base station and a user equipment (UE)may communicate via beam pair links (BPLs), each BPL including atransmit beam of one wireless node (e.g., a UE) and a receive beam of asecond wireless node (e.g., a base station).

A base station and a UE may communicate using uplink transmissions fromthe UE to the base station and downlink transmissions from the basestation to the UE. An uplink transmission may be scheduled by sendingthe UE an uplink grant, which signals to the UE that it may transmituplink data on configured or scheduled resources. However, a UE may alsohave an ability to perform an autonomous uplink (AUL) transmission(e.g., a grantless or unscheduled transmission) of an uplink message.AUL may refer to the process by which a UE transmits uplink signals to abase station without having to first receive an uplink grant, and AULfunctionality may be configured using radio resource control (RRC)messaging.

In some cases, multiple UEs may share time-domain AUL resources,allowing a corresponding base station to receive multiple AULtransmissions simultaneously (e.g., from different UEs in differentdirections). However, the base station may only have the capacity toreceive using one beam at a time, or the base station may receive atransmission on a certain beam only when it is monitoring that beam'spath (e.g., in a particular direction using a corresponding receivebeam). In some cases, although the same AUL resources may be configuredfor multiple UEs, no UEs may be transmitting uplink data or only one UEmay be transmitting uplink data. The base station may thus not be awareof an AUL transmission on a certain beam or may not be aware that a UEis performing an AUL transmission. Consequently, the base station maymiss AUL transmissions, for example, if monitoring for or receivingother transmissions in a different direction. Additionally, differentAUL resources may be allocated for different beams. But due to apotentially large number of beams, this allocation may increase overheadsignificantly. In such cases, AUL may become costly to support, as abase station may need to coordinate tuning of a specific receive beamduring the time that respective UEs are configured with AUL resources.Further, other UEs may not be able to utilize the AUL resource duringthis time if the base station is already busy monitoring for uplinktraffic on the receive beam associated with the AUL resources.

As described herein, AUL resources may be configured such that a basestation may coherently receive AUL transmissions from various UEs whilesimultaneously minimizing overhead. For example, a base station mayconfigure a first set of AUL resources for a first beam, a second set ofAUL resources for a second beam, and so on. That is, the base stationmay configure AUL resources in a beam-specific manner. The base stationmay semi-statically or dynamically provide this configurationinformation to UEs to allow the UEs to utilize the AUL resources onvarious beams. Accordingly, the base station may coherently monitor forAUL transmissions on the configured AUL resources for respective beams.

Additionally or alternatively, a base station may configure AULresources in a user-specific manner. For instance, a base station mayconfigure a first set of AUL resources for a first UE, a second set ofAUL resources for a second UE, and so on. In such cases, the UE maydetermine which transmit beam to use for AUL transmission. The UE mayrepeatedly transmit a data portion of an AUL resource until a basestation receives the transmission. Additionally or alternatively, the UEmay transmit a sensing portion of an AUL resource so that the basestation can tune its receive beam(s) in the corresponding directionresponsive to a sensing signal included in the sensing portion. In somecases, a base station may transmit a downlink trigger signal indicatingwhich transmit beam the UE may use for AUL transmission.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of awireless communications system. Further examples are provided thatillustrate configured AUL resources used for AUL transmissions. Aspectsof the disclosure are further illustrated by and described withreference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts thatrelate to AUL with analog beams.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100 inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The wirelesscommunications system 100 includes base stations 105, UEs 115, and acore network 130. In some examples, the wireless communications system100 may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A)network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In somecases, wireless communications system 100 may support enhanced broadbandcommunications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications,low latency communications, or communications with low-cost andlow-complexity devices. Wireless communications system 100 may supportAUL resource configurations used for AUL transmissions with reducedoverhead.

Base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with UEs 115 via one ormore base station antennas. Base stations 105 described herein mayinclude or may be referred to by those skilled in the art as a basetransceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radiotransceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation Node B orgiga-nodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a Home NodeB,a Home eNodeB, or some other suitable terminology. Wirelesscommunications system 100 may include base stations 105 of differenttypes (e.g., macro or small cell base stations). The UEs 115 describedherein may be able to communicate with various types of base stations105 and network equipment including macro eNBs, small cell eNBs, gNBs,relay base stations, and the like.

Each base station 105 may be associated with a particular geographiccoverage area 110 in which communications with various UEs 115 issupported. Each base station 105 may provide communication coverage fora respective geographic coverage area 110 via communication links 125,and communication links 125 between a base station 105 and a UE 115 mayutilize one or more carriers. Communication links 125 shown in wirelesscommunications system 100 may include uplink transmissions from a UE 115to a base station 105, or downlink transmissions from a base station 105to a UE 115. Downlink transmissions may also be called forward linktransmissions while uplink transmissions may also be called reverse linktransmissions.

The geographic coverage area 110 for a base station 105 may be dividedinto sectors making up only a portion of the geographic coverage area110, and each sector may be associated with a cell. For example, eachbase station 105 may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, asmall cell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or various combinationsthereof. In some examples, a base station 105 may be movable andtherefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographiccoverage area 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas110 associated with different technologies may overlap, and overlappinggeographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies maybe supported by the same base station 105 or by different base stations105. The wireless communications system 100 may include, for example, aheterogeneous LTE/LTE-A/LTE-A Pro or NR network in which different typesof base stations 105 provide coverage for various geographic coverageareas 110.

The term “cell” refers to a logical communication entity used forcommunication with a base station 105 (e.g., over a carrier), and may beassociated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells(e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier(VCID)) operating via the same or a different carrier. In some examples,a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may beconfigured according to different protocol types (e.g., machine-typecommunication (MTC), narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT), enhancedmobile broadband (eMBB), or others) that may provide access fordifferent types of devices. In some cases, the term “cell” may refer toa portion of a geographic coverage area 110 (e.g., a sector) over whichthe logical entity operates.

UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the wireless communications system100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile. A UE 115 may also bereferred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, ahandheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitableterminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, astation, a terminal, or a client. A UE 115 may also be a personalelectronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. Insome examples, a UE 115 may also refer to a wireless local loop (WLL)station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything(IoE) device, or an MTC device, or the like, which may be implemented invarious articles such as appliances, vehicles, meters, or the like.

Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or lowcomplexity devices, and may provide for automated communication betweenmachines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2Mcommunication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies thatallow devices to communicate with one another or a base station 105without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTCmay include communications from devices that integrate sensors or metersto measure or capture information and relay that information to acentral server or application program that can make use of theinformation or present the information to humans interacting with theprogram or application. Some UEs 115 may be designed to collectinformation or enable automated behavior of machines. Examples ofapplications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventorymonitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcaremonitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological eventmonitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing,physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

Some UEs 115 may be configured to employ operating modes that reducepower consumption, such as half-duplex communications (e.g., a mode thatsupports one-way communication via transmission or reception, but nottransmission and reception simultaneously). In some examples half-duplexcommunications may be performed at a reduced peak rate. Other powerconservation techniques for UEs 115 include entering a power saving“deep sleep” mode when not engaging in active communications, oroperating over a limited bandwidth (e.g., according to narrowbandcommunications). In some cases, UEs 115 may be designed to supportcritical functions (e.g., mission critical functions), and a wirelesscommunications system 100 may be configured to provide ultra-reliablecommunications for these functions.

In some cases, a UE 115 may also be able to communicate directly withother UEs 115 (e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or device-to-device(D2D) protocol). One or more of a group of UEs 115 utilizing D2Dcommunications may be within the geographic coverage area 110 of a basestation 105. Other UEs 115 in such a group may be outside the geographiccoverage area 110 of a base station 105 or be otherwise unable toreceive transmissions from a base station 105. In some cases, groups ofUEs 115 communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many(1:M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to every other UE 115 in thegroup. In some cases, a base station 105 facilitates the scheduling ofresources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications arecarried out between UEs 115 without the involvement of a base station105.

Base stations 105 may communicate with the core network 130 and with oneanother. For example, base stations 105 may interface with the corenetwork 130 through backhaul links 132 (e.g., via an S1 or some otherinterface). Base stations 105 may communicate with one another overbackhaul links 134 (e.g., via an X2 or other interface) either directly(e.g., directly between base stations 105) or indirectly (e.g., via corenetwork 130).

The core network 130 may provide user authentication, accessauthorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and otheraccess, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be anevolved packet core (EPC), which may include at least one mobilitymanagement entity (MME), at least one serving gateway (S-GW), and atleast one Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW). The MME may managenon-access stratum (e.g., control plane) functions such as mobility,authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by basestations 105 associated with the EPC. User IP packets may be transferredthrough the S-GW, which itself may be connected to the P-GW. The P-GWmay provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The P-GWmay be connected to the network operators IP services. The operators IPservices may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched (PS) Streaming Service.

At least some of the network devices, such as a base station 105, mayinclude subcomponents such as an access network entity, which may be anexample of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entitymay communicate with UEs 115 through a number of other access networktransmission entities, which may be referred to as a radio head, a smartradio head, or a transmission/reception point (TRP). In someconfigurations, various functions of each access network entity or basestation 105 may be distributed across various network devices (e.g.,radio heads and access network controllers) or consolidated into asingle network device (e.g., a base station 105).

Wireless communications system 100 may operate using one or morefrequency bands, typically in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz.Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-highfrequency (UHF) region or decimeter band, since the wavelengths rangefrom approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves maybe blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features.However, the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macrocell to provide service to UEs 115 located indoors. Transmission of UHFwaves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter range (e.g.,less than 100 km) compared to transmission using the smaller frequenciesand longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF)portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in a super highfrequency (SHF) region using frequency bands from 3 GHz to 30 GHz, alsoknown as the centimeter band. The SHF region includes bands such as the5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands, which may be usedopportunistically by devices that can tolerate interference from otherusers.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in an extremely highfrequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 25 GHz to 300 GHz),also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, wirelesscommunications system 100 may support mmW communications between UEs 115and base stations 105, and EHF antennas of the respective devices may beeven smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some cases,this may facilitate use of antenna arrays within a UE 115. However, thepropagation of EHF transmissions may be subject to even greateratmospheric attenuation and shorter range than SHF or UHF transmissions.Techniques disclosed herein may be employed across transmissions thatuse one or more different frequency regions, and designated use of bandsacross these frequency regions may differ by country or regulating body.

A UE 115 attempting to access a wireless network may perform an initialcell search by detecting a primary synchronization signal (PSS) from abase station 105. The PSS may enable synchronization of slot timing andmay indicate a physical layer identity value. The UE 115 may thenreceive a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The SSS may enableradio frame synchronization, and may provide a cell identity value,which may be combined with the physical layer identity value to identifythe cell. The SSS may also enable detection of a duplexing mode and acyclic prefix length. Some systems, such as time division duplexing(TDD) systems, may transmit an SSS but not a PSS. Both the PSS and theSSS may be located in the central 62 and 72 subcarriers of a carrier,respectively. After receiving the PSS and SSS, the UE 115 may receive amaster information block (MIB), which may be transmitted in the physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH). The MIB may contain system bandwidthinformation, an SFN, and a physical HARQ indicator channel (PHICH)configuration. After decoding the MIB, the UE 115 may receive one ormore SIBs. For example, SIB1 may contain cell access parameters andscheduling information for other SIBs. Decoding SIB1 may enable the UE115 to receive SIB2. SIB2 may contain RRC configuration informationrelated to random access channel (RACH) procedures, paging, PUCCH,physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), power control, soundingreference signal (SRS), and cell barring. In some cases, a base station105 may transmit synchronization signals (SSs) (e.g., PSS SSS, and thelike) using multiple beams in a beam-sweeping manner through a cellcoverage area. For example, PSS, SSS, and/or broadcast information(e.g., a PBCH) may be transmitted within different SS blocks onrespective directional beams, where one or more SS blocks may beincluded within an SS burst. In some cases, these SSs and RSs may betransmitted at different times and/or using different beams.

A base station 105 may insert periodic pilot symbols such as acell-specific reference signal (CRS) to aid UEs 115 in channelestimation and coherent demodulation. CRS may include one of 504different cell identities. They may be modulated using quadrature phaseshift keying (QPSK) and power boosted (e.g., transmitted at 6 dB higherthan the surrounding data elements) to make them resilient to noise andinterference. CRS may be embedded in 4 to 16 resource elements in eachresource block based on the number of antenna ports or layers (up to 4)of the receiving UEs 115. In addition to CRS, which may be utilized byall UEs 115 in the geographic coverage area 110 of the base station 105,demodulation reference signal (DMRS) may be directed toward specific UEs115 and may be transmitted only on resource blocks assigned to those UEs115. DMRS may include signals on 6 resource elements in each resourceblock in which they are transmitted. The DMRS for different antennaports may each utilize the same 6 resource elements and may bedistinguished using different orthogonal cover codes (e.g., masking eachsignal with a different combination of 1 or −1 in different resourceelements). In some cases, two sets of DMRS may be transmitted inadjoining resource elements. In some cases, additional reference signalsknown as channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) may beincluded to aid in generating channel state information (CSI). On theuplink, a UE 115 may transmit a combination of periodic SRS and uplinkDMRS for link adaptation and demodulation, respectively.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may utilize bothlicensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example,wireless communications system 100 may employ License Assisted Access(LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technologyin an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz ISM band. When operating inunlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, wireless devices such as basestations 105 and UEs 115 may employ listen-before-talk (LBT) proceduresto ensure a frequency channel is clear before transmitting data. In somecases, operations in unlicensed bands may be based on a CA configurationin conjunction with CCs operating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA).Operations in unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions,uplink transmissions, peer-to-peer transmissions, or a combination ofthese. Duplexing in unlicensed spectrum may be based on frequencydivision duplexing (FDD), TDD, or a combination of both. In some cases,a UE 115 may perform an LBT procedure prior to performing an AULtransmission.

In some examples, base station 105 or UE 115 may be equipped withmultiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such astransmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) communications, or beamforming. For example, wirelesscommunications system 100 may use a transmission scheme between atransmitting device (e.g., a base station 105) and a receiving device(e.g., a UE 115), where the transmitting device is equipped withmultiple antennas and the receiving devices are equipped with one ormore antennas. MIMO communications may employ multipath signalpropagation to increase the spectral efficiency by transmitting orreceiving multiple signals via different spatial layers, which may bereferred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, forexample, be transmitted by the transmitting device via differentantennas or different combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiplesignals may be received by the receiving device via different antennasor different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals maybe referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry bitsassociated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) ordifferent data streams. Different spatial layers may be associated withdifferent antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMOtechniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) where multiple spatiallayers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-userMIMO (MU-MIMO) where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multipledevices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering,directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signalprocessing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or areceiving device (e.g., a base station 105 or a UE 115) to shape orsteer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam or receive beam) along aspatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device.Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated viaantenna elements of an antenna array, such that the signals propagatingat particular orientations with respect to an antenna array experienceconstructive interference while others experience destructiveinterference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antennaelements may include a transmitting device or a receiving device,applying certain amplitude and phase offsets to signals carried via eachof the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustmentsassociated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by abeamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g.,with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device orreceiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

In one example, a base station 105 may use multiple antennas or antennaarrays to conduct beamforming operations for directional communicationswith a UE 115. For instance, some signals (e.g., synchronizationsignals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other controlsignals) may be transmitted by a base station 105 multiple times indifferent directions, which may include a signal being transmittedaccording to different beamforming weight sets associated with differentdirections of transmission. Transmissions in different beam directionsmay be used to identify (e.g., by the base station 105 or a receivingdevice, such as a UE 115) a beam direction for subsequent transmissionand/or reception by the base station 105. Some signals, such as datasignals associated with a particular receiving device, may betransmitted by a base station 105 in a single beam direction (e.g., adirection associated with the receiving device, such as a UE 115). Insome examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along asingle beam direction may be determined based at least in in part on asignal that was transmitted in different beam directions. For example, aUE 115 may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the basestation 105 in different directions, and the UE 115 may report to thebase station 105 an indication of the signal it received with a highestsignal quality, or an otherwise acceptable signal quality. Althoughthese techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted inone or more directions by a base station 105, a UE 115 may employsimilar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times in differentdirections (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequenttransmission or reception by the UE 115) or transmitting a signal in asingle direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE 115, which may be an example of a mmWreceiving device) may try multiple receive beams when receiving varioussignals from the base station 105, such as synchronization signals,reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. Forexample, a receiving device may try multiple receive directions byreceiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing receivedsignals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving accordingto different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals receivedat a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processingreceived signals according to different receive beamforming weight setsapplied to signals received at a plurality of antenna elements of anantenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” accordingto different receive beams or receive directions. In some examples areceiving device may use a single receive beam to receive along a singlebeam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receivebeam may be aligned in a beam direction determined based at least inpart on listening according to different receive beam directions (e.g.,a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highestsignal-to-noise ratio, or otherwise acceptable signal quality based atleast in part on listening according to multiple beam directions).

In some cases, the antennas of a base station 105 or UE 115 may belocated within one or more antenna arrays, which may support MIMOoperations, or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or morebase station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antennaassembly, such as an antenna tower. In some cases, antennas or antennaarrays associated with a base station 105 may be located in diversegeographic locations. A base station 105 may have an antenna array witha number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station 105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE 115.Likewise, a UE 115 may have one or more antenna arrays that may supportvarious MIMO or beamforming operations.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may be a packet-basednetwork that operate according to a layered protocol stack. In the userplane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol(PDCP) layer may be IP-based. A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer may insome cases perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicateover logical channels. A Medium Access Control (MAC) layer may performpriority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transportchannels. The MAC layer may also use hybrid automatic repeat request(HARQ) to provide retransmission at the MAC layer to improve linkefficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC)protocol layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenanceof an RRC connection between a UE 115 and a base station 105 or corenetwork 130 supporting radio bearers for user plane data. At thePhysical (PHY) layer, transport channels may be mapped to physicalchannels.

In some cases, UEs 115 and base stations 105 may support retransmissionsof data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully.HARQ feedback is one technique of increasing the likelihood that data isreceived correctly over a communication link 125. HARQ may include acombination of error detection (e.g., using a cyclic redundancy check(CRC)), forward error correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g.,automatic repeat request (ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAClayer in poor radio conditions (e.g., signal-to-noise conditions). Insome cases, a wireless device may support same-slot HARQ feedback, wherethe device may provide HARQ feedback in a specific slot for datareceived in a previous symbol in the slot. In other cases, the devicemay provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent slot, or according to someother time interval.

Time intervals in LTE or NR may be expressed in multiples of a basictime unit, which may, for example, refer to a sampling period ofT_(s)=1/30,720,000 seconds. Time intervals of a communications resourcemay be organized according to radio frames each having a duration of 10milliseconds (ms), where the frame period may be expressed asT_(f)=307,200 T_(s). The radio frames may be identified by a systemframe number (SFN) ranging from 0 to 1023. Each frame may include 10subframes numbered from 0 to 9, and each subframe may have a duration of1 ms. A subframe may be further divided into 2 slots each having aduration of 0.5 ms, and each slot may contain 6 or 7 modulation symbolperiods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended toeach symbol period). Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period maycontain 2048 sampling periods. In some cases, a subframe may be thesmallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system 100 andmay be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In othercases, a smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100 may be shorter than a subframe or may be dynamically selected (e.g.,in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs) or in selected component carriersusing sTTIs).

In some wireless communications systems, a slot may further be dividedinto multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. In someinstances, a symbol of a mini-slot or a mini-slot may be the smallestunit of scheduling. Each symbol may vary in duration depending on thesubcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation, for example. Further,some wireless communications systems may implement slot aggregation inwhich multiple slots or mini-slots are aggregated together and used forcommunication between a UE 115 and a base station 105.

The term “carrier” refers to a set of radio frequency spectrum resourceshaving a defined physical layer structure for supporting communicationsover a communication link 125. For example, a carrier of a communicationlink 125 may include a portion of a radio frequency spectrum band thatis operated according to physical layer channels for a given radioaccess technology. Each physical layer channel may carry user data,control information, or other signaling. A carrier may be associatedwith a pre-defined frequency channel (e.g., an E-UTRA absolute radiofrequency channel number (EARFCN)) and may be positioned according to achannel raster for discovery by UEs 115. Carriers may be downlink oruplink (e.g., in an FDD mode), or be configured to carry downlink anduplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode). In some examples, signalwaveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up of multiplesub-carriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques suchas orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or DFT-s-OFDM).

The organizational structure of the carriers may be different fordifferent radio access technologies (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR,etc.). For example, communications over a carrier may be organizedaccording to TTIs or slots, each of which may include user data as wellas control information or signaling to support decoding the user data. Acarrier may also include dedicated acquisition signaling (e.g.,synchronization signals or system information) and control signalingthat coordinates operation for the carrier. In some examples (e.g., in acarrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also have acquisitionsignaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for othercarriers.

Physical channels may be multiplexed on a carrier according to varioustechniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel maybe multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using time divisionmultiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM)techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. In some examples, controlinformation transmitted in a physical control channel may be distributedbetween different control regions in a cascaded manner (e.g., between acommon control region or common search space and one or more UE-specificcontrol regions or UE-specific search spaces).

Downlink control information (DCI), including HARQ information, istransmitted in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries DCIin at least one control channel elements CCE, which may consist of ninelogically contiguous resource element groups (REGs), where each REGcontains 4 resource elements. DCI includes information regardingdownlink scheduling assignments, uplink resource grants, transmissionscheme, uplink power control, HARQ information, modulation and codingscheme (MCS), and other information. The size and format of the DCImessages can differ depending on the type and amount of information thatis carried by the DCI. For example, if spatial multiplexing issupported, the size of the DCI message is large compared to contiguousfrequency allocations. Similarly, for a system that employs MIMO, theDCI includes additional signaling information. DCI size and formatdepend on the amount of information as well as factors such asbandwidth, the number of antenna ports, and duplexing mode.

A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radiofrequency spectrum, and in some examples the carrier bandwidth may bereferred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or the wirelesscommunications system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be oneof a number of predetermined bandwidths for carriers of a particularradio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 MHz). Insome examples, each served UE 115 may be configured for operating overportions or all of the carrier bandwidth. In other examples, some UEs115 may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol typethat is associated with a predefined portion or range (e.g., set ofsubcarriers or resource blocks (RBs)) within a carrier (e.g., “in-band”deployment of a narrowband protocol type).

In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may consist ofone symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and onesubcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inverselyrelated. The number of bits carried by each resource element may dependon the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme).Thus, the more resource elements that a UE 115 receives and the higherthe order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be forthe UE 115. In MIMO systems, a wireless communications resource mayrefer to a combination of a radio frequency spectrum resource, a timeresource, and a spatial resource (e.g., spatial layers), and the use ofmultiple spatial layers may further increase the data rate forcommunications with a UE 115.

Devices of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., base stations105 or UEs 115) may have a hardware configuration that supportscommunications over a particular carrier bandwidth or may beconfigurable to support communications over one of a set of carrierbandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 mayinclude base stations 105 and/or UEs that can support simultaneouscommunications via carriers associated with more than one differentcarrier bandwidth.

Wireless communications system 100 may support communication with a UE115 on multiple cells or carriers, a feature which may be referred to ascarrier aggregation (CA) or multi-carrier operation. A UE 115 may beconfigured with multiple downlink CCs and one or more uplink CCsaccording to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregationmay be used with both FDD and TDD component carriers.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may utilize enhancedcomponent carriers (eCCs). An eCC may be characterized by one or morefeatures including wider carrier or frequency channel bandwidth, shortersymbol duration, shorter TTI duration, or modified control channelconfiguration. In some cases, an eCC may be associated with a carrieraggregation configuration or a dual connectivity configuration (e.g.,when multiple serving cells have a suboptimal or non-ideal backhaullink). An eCC may also be configured for use in unlicensed spectrum orshared spectrum (e.g., where more than one operator is allowed to usethe spectrum). An eCC characterized by wide carrier bandwidth mayinclude one or more segments that may be utilized by UEs 115 that arenot capable of monitoring the whole carrier bandwidth or are otherwiseconfigured to use a limited carrier bandwidth (e.g., to conserve power).

In some cases, an eCC may utilize a different symbol duration than otherCCs, which may include use of a reduced symbol duration as compared withsymbol durations of the other CCs. A shorter symbol duration may beassociated with increased spacing between adjacent subcarriers. Adevice, such as a UE 115 or base station 105, utilizing eCCs maytransmit wideband signals (e.g., according to frequency channel orcarrier bandwidths of 20, 40, 60, 80 MHz, etc.) at reduced symboldurations (e.g., 16.67 microseconds (μs)). A TTI in eCC may consist ofone or multiple symbol periods. In some cases, the TTI duration (thatis, the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable.

Wireless communications systems such as an NR system may utilize anycombination of licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum bands, amongothers. The flexibility of eCC symbol duration and subcarrier spacingmay allow for the use of eCC across multiple spectrums. In someexamples, NR shared spectrum may increase spectrum utilization andspectral efficiency, specifically through dynamic vertical (e.g., acrossfrequency) and horizontal (e.g., across time) sharing of resources.

Wireless communications system 100 may support the configuration ofresources for AUL transmissions by a UE 115. For example, a base station105 may configure a set of AUL resources that are specific to a basestation receive beam, or the AUL resources may be configured forspecific UEs 115 or user groups. Additionally, the AUL resources may beconfigured to include a sensing portion (e.g., including an AULindicator), a data portion, or both. The use of the configured AULresources may enable AUL transmissions by a UE 115 with minimaloverhead, and the base station 105 may efficiently determine a receivebeam for receiving the uplink data from the UE 115 in accordance withthe AUL configuration.

As an example, a UE 115 may receive an AUL configuration that includesan indication of a set of AUL resources that are specific to an AULreceive beam at the base station 105. The UE 115 may then determine thatthe set of AUL resources is available and perform an AUL transmission ofuplink data to the base station 105 using the set of beam-specific AULresources. Because the set of AUL resources may be specific to the AULreceive beam, the base station 105 may receive the AUL transmission inaccordance with the AUL configuration (e.g., on a base station receivebeam corresponding to the AUL resources). Additionally or alternatively,after receiving a UE-specific AUL configuration, the UE 115 may performthe AUL transmission that includes a first portion for a sensing signaland a second portion for the uplink data. The base station 105 may usethe sensing signal to determine a suitable receive beam to receive theuplink data in the AUL transmission. In some examples, the UE 115 mayreceive a trigger signal from the base station 105 that indicateswhether the set of AUL resources are available for an AUL transmission.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 200that supports AUL with analog beams in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communicationssystem 200 may implement aspects of wireless communications system 100.For example, wireless communications system 200 includes a base station105, and multiple UEs 115, including UE 115-a and UE 115-b, which may beexamples of the corresponding devices described with reference toFIG. 1. Wireless communications system 200 may support the use of a setof AUL resource configuration for efficient AUL transmissions by a UE115, where the set of AUL resources may include a sensing portion, adata portion, or both.

Wireless communications system 200 may operate in frequency ranges thatare associated with beamformed transmissions between base station 105-aand UE 115-a and/or UE 115-b. For example, wireless communicationssystem 200 may operate using mmW frequency ranges. As a result, signalprocessing techniques, such as beamforming, may be used to coherentlycombine energy and overcome path losses. For example, base station 105-aand the UEs 115 may communicate via beam pair links BPLs, each BPLincluding, for example, a transmit beam 205 of a UE 115 and a receivebeam 210 of base station 105-a. It is understood that the respectivedevices are capable of forming directional beams for transmission andreception, where base station 105-a may also form one or more transmitbeams for transmitting on the downlink, and the UEs 115 may formcorresponding receive beams to receive signals from base station 105-a.In some cases, base station 105-a may only have the capacity to utilizea single receive beam 210 at a time (e.g., during a TTI), and basestation 105-a may receive directional transmissions from UE 115-a and UE115-b when monitoring the path of a transmit beam 205 (e.g., in aparticular direction).

One or both of UE 115-a and UE 115-b may be capable of AUL transmissionsto a base station 105-a. Thus, the UEs 115 in wireless communicationssystem 200 may perform AUL transmissions 215 to base station 105-a via atransmit beam 205, which may be received using a corresponding receivebeam 210 at base station 105-a. Corresponding beams may be defined as areceive beam 210 that is used to receive signals from a certaindirection, where there may be a corresponding transmit beam 205 used totransmit in that direction. Additionally or alternatively, correspondingbeams may refer to a transmit beam 205 and receive beam 210 using thesame beamforming weights. There may also be correspondence betweentransmit beams and receive beams at the same device. For instance, basestation 105-a may receive a transmission (i.e., in a first direction) ona particular receive beam 210, and base station 105-a may use the samebeam path as the receive beam 210 to send downlink transmissions (i.e.,in the first direction) on a corresponding transmit beam. Thebeamforming weights in such a scenario may be the same for both areceive beam 210 and a transmit beam at base station 105-a. The samecorrespondence may take place for transmit beams 205 and receive beamsformed at UE 115-a and UE 115-b. In any case, an AUL transmission 215may be sent on a set of AUL resources by UE 115-a. Base station 105-amay accordingly transmit downlink communications to the UEs 115 viadownlink beams, which may include an AUL configuration, where the AULconfiguration indicates the set of AUL resources for use by a UE 115.

In some examples, a set of AUL resources may be configured to include asensing portion 225 (e.g., including an AUL indicator), a data portion230, or any combination of the these. Resources (e.g., AUL resources)may be defined as time/frequency resources that include, for example,one or more of a resource block (RB), a beam, a subframe, and the like.For instance, an RB may be a smallest unit of time/frequency resourcesallocated to a user, which may comprise a number of subcarriers (e.g.,12 subcarriers) with a duration of a slot. As described in furtherdetail below, base station 105-a may configure respective time-domainAUL resources to UE 115-a and UE 115-b, where base station 105-a may usea different receive beam 210 for receiving AUL transmission 215 from therespective UEs 115. In some examples, base station 105-a may configuredifferent AUL resources for the different UEs 115 on different beams,where the AUL resources may overlap in time. For instance, base station105-a may configure a first AUL resource set specific to a first basestation receive beam 210, a second AUL resource set specific to a secondbase station receive beam 210, and so on.

While in some cases, base station 105-a may only have the capacity toreceive one beam at a time, and may thus not be able to receive the AULtransmission from every UE 115 simultaneously, the AUL configuration mayenable base station 105-a to efficiently detect and receive incoming AULtransmissions 215 on the respective sets of AUL resources. In somecases, base station 105-a may determine which UE 115 may transmit on anAUL resource as well as which receive beam 210 base station 105-a mayuse for receiving uplink data (e.g., base station 105-a may track thebest receive beam 210 for UE 115-a). In some examples, base station105-a may provide a set of AUL resources to multiple UEs 115 via an AULconfiguration. The set of AUL resources may be configured such that theyoverlap in time, or the AUL resources may be configured such that theydo not overlap in time.

Base station 105-a may use a combination of semi-static and dynamicindications when signaling configurations of AUL resources. Forinstance, base station 105-a may semi-statically (e.g., through RRCmessaging or DCI) or dynamically (e.g., through DCI or a downlinktrigger) configure the AUL resources in a beam-specific manner. In somecases, the AUL configuration may be UE-specific, cell-specific, orbeam-specific. A beam-specific AUL configuration may be desirable whenthe UEs 115 are able to track the base station receive beam 210, whichmay allow UE 115-a to match a transmit beam 205 to the direction of abase station receive beam 210. UE 115-a may only send an AULtransmission 215 to base station 105-a on an AUL resource if UE 115-adetermines that base station 105-a may be able to detect the AULtransmission 215 when base station 105-a uses a receive beam 210.Additionally, beam-specific AUL configurations may be desirable when theAUL traffic is random (e.g., as with web browsing).

In some examples, additional AUL resources for specific base stationreceive beams 210 or for specific users/user groups may be madeavailable dynamically through DCI, a downlink trigger, or both. In somecases, if an AUL transmission 215 on a set of AUL resource includessensing portion 225 and the data portion 230, the sensing portion 225may be skipped (e.g., not used) for the dynamically allocatedbeam-specific AUL resources. In some examples, a PUSCH/DMRS pattern maybe different for dynamically configured AUL resources versussemi-statically configured AUL resources. Additionally, the DCI and/ordownlink trigger may indicate whether the AUL resource includes asensing portion 225. That is, a set of AUL resources may not include thesensing portion 225, and the AUL transmission 215 may only include thedata portion 230. Additionally, there may be different optionsconfigured for the different portions of the AUL resources. Forinstance, one or more reference signals may be transmitted withinsensing portion 225, where the reference signals may be multiplexed withuplink data in sensing portion 225. In other cases, sensing portion 225may include a sensing signal utilized by base station 105-a to determinea receive beam 210 for receiving the data portion 230.

The sensing signal may assist base station 105-a in identifying areceive beam for UE 115-a. UE 115-a may transmit the sensing signal whenit has data or may transmit the sensing signal even if UE 115-a does nothave uplink data to transmit. In some cases, UE 115-a may initiate abeam change, and UE 115-a may transmit using the sensing portion 225when it is determined that base station 105-a may need to update itsbeam (e.g., based on downlink measurements). In other examples, basestation 105-a may initiate a beam change. For example, a base stationmay monitor the SRS along a beam direction (or a plurality of beamdirections). When base station 105-a determines that the beam strengthis weak (e.g., based on an RSRP, SINR, or the like), base station 105-amay instruct the corresponding UE 115 (e.g., through DCI) to transmitmore sensing signals so that base station 105-a can update the basestation receive beam 210.

Sensing portion 225 may also include additional control information. Forexample, sensing portion 225 may include one or any combination of thefollowing (e.g., as part of an AUL indicator): priority of the AULtransmission, a waveform used for the data transmission (e.g., PUSCH),information about the identity of the transmitting UE 115, a UE transmitbeam 205 identity (e.g., for transmit beam adaptation), an MCS, aredundancy version (RV), resource allocation information (e.g., timedomain and frequency domain information), reference signals (e.g., SRSor DMRS), or an indication of a preferred receive beam 210 at basestation 105-a to be used to receive AUL transmissions (e.g., in the casebase station 105-a uses omni-directional sensing (i.e., multiple receivebeams 210 that form a pseudo-omni beam)). In some examples, theinformation associated with sensing portion 225 may be carried at leastthrough a scrambling code, an orthogonal cover code, a cyclic shift, ora frequency comb associated with sensing portion 225. Sensing portion225 may also serve as the DMRSs for the data portion 230. Base station105-a may use this additional information to choose which receive beam210 to receive uplink data, for example, in case of a conflictionbetween multiple AUL transmissions 215.

After receiving the AUL configuration, UE 115-a may determine whetherthe beam-specific AUL resources are available to the UE 115-a. In someexamples, base station 105-a may transmit an indication of whether theset of AUL resources are available for an AUL transmission. Theindication may be explicit (e.g., through RRC messaging or DCI), or theindication may be implicit (e.g., an AUL indicator, a downlink trigger,or a trigger signal). For example, a downlink trigger or a triggersignal may be sent to UE 115-a, and UE 115-a may use the trigger signalto determine if a set of AUL resources are available for AULtransmission 215. In such cases, the AUL configuration may also includeconfiguration information for the trigger signal that may be used by UE115-a to both determine the time/frequency resources of the triggersignal and process the trigger signal.

Base station 105-a may transmit the trigger signaling using a basestation transmit beam that corresponds to a base station receive beam210 of an AUL resource. Due to reciprocity, if UE 115-a detects thedownlink trigger sent on the transmit beam corresponding to the basestation receive beam 210 using a UE receive beam, an AUL transmissionusing a transmit beam 205 that follows the same path as the base stationreceive beam 210 may be detectable by the base station 105 using basestation receive beam 210, and thus UE 115-a may send its AUL traffic onthe transmit beam 205. The base station transmit beam and base stationreceive beam 210 may refer to beams used by base station 105-a totransmit and receive in the same direction. For example, the basestation beam and base station receive beam 210 may use the samebeamforming weights. Similarly, transmit beam 205 and the UE receivebeam may refer to the UE transmit beams 205 and the UE receive beam thatmay be in the same direction at the UE 115. In some examples, UE 115-amay be preconfigured with where to monitor (e.g., resources on which tomonitor) for the trigger signal. Additionally or alternatively, multipleAUL resources may share the same trigger. In some examples, UE 115-a maydetermine that the AUL resources are available for AUL transmissionsbased at least in part on one or more of the following: determining thatthe signal strength of the trigger signal being above a threshold,detecting the presence or absence of the trigger signal, or successfullydecoding the trigger signal.

In some examples, the downlink trigger may be a waveform-based design.The trigger signal may be FDM with a synchronization signal burst (SSB)transmission, or the trigger signal may be the SSB itself. In such acase, the AUL configuration information also configures which SSB tomonitor for the trigger signal. In some examples, the downlink triggermay comprise RRC messaging, DCI, downlink messaging, a PDCCH, areference signal, an SSB, or a combination thereof.

In cases where the trigger includes a PDCCH transmission, the PDCCH mayindicate a subset of AUL resources within the set of available AULresources. The PDCCH may also indicate a second trigger signalassociated with AUL resources, where the second trigger signal may beused to determine whether the AUL resources are available. The secondtrigger signal may be a reference signal or signaling within SSBs usingthe same beam. In some cases, the trigger may indicate informationrelated to an AUL transmission 215. For instance, the downlink triggermay indicate, either implicitly or explicitly, one or a combination ofthe following: an identifier of a detected sensing resource (e.g.,sensing portion 225), information about the transmitting UE's identity,beam identity information (e.g., base station receive beam ID, basestation transmit beam ID, UE transmit beam ID for transmitting PUSCH,etc.), base station transmission identity, UE data portion transmissionidentity, AUL data resource allocation corresponding to one or morebeams, and waveform type to use for the AUL resource data portion (e.g.,for PUSCH).

If the beam-specific AUL resources are determined to be available to UE115-a, UE 115-a may use the transmit beam 205 that is most suitable foruplink transmission (e.g., using a transmit beam 205 that aligns with aconfigured base station receive beam 210 or using a transmit beam 205that experiences the least interference or has the highest receivesignal strength), and, thus, transmit on the corresponding AUL resourcethat is configured to the base station receive beam 210.

In some examples, base station 105-a may transmit an indication of theset of AUL resources to UE 115-a via the AUL configuration, and UE 115-amay not be aware of the base station receive beam 210 associated withthe AUL resources. In such cases, base station 105-a may monitortransmit beams 210 from UE 115-a to determine the best BPL on which tocommunicate with UE 115-a, where the BPL includes a receive beam 210 anda transmit beam 205 that follow the same path. The best BPL may be theBPL that features the highest reference signal received quality (RSRQ)or the highest signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) comparedto the other BPLs. Base station 105-a may configure different UEs 115such that their AUL resources do not overlap in time, or base station105-a may configure different UEs 115 such that their AUL resourcesoverlap in time. In the case of an overlap, base station 105-a maydetermine which receive beam 210 to receive on.

Base station 105-a and its corresponding UE(s) 115 (e.g., UE 115-a andUE 115-b) may have a known procedure for searching for and refiningreceive beams 210 to use for AUL reception. In some cases, base station105-a and UE 115-a may implement additional procedures to identify andrefine the receive beams 210 used for AUL reception. For example, UE115-a may transmit uplink data (e.g., PUSCH) on its AUL resource ondifferent transmit beams 205. Base station 105-a may cycle throughdifferent receive beams 210 until a transmit beam 205 is detected andthe AUL transmission 215 may be subsequently received. To avoid missingdata transmissions, this process may require repetitions of the uplinkdata within the AUL transmission 215. In some examples, base station105-a may know a base station receive beam 210 on which communicationwith UE 115-a is successful. In such cases, base station 105-a may onlymonitor this receive beam 210 until it detects the AUL transmission 215.

In some examples, UE 115-a may transmit an AUL indicator or a sensingsignal to base station 105-a. Base station 105-a may determine to use areceive beam 210 based at least in part on the AUL indicator sent by UE115-a. In some examples, the AUL indicator is included in the sensingportion 225 of the AUL resource. UE 115-a may determine when to transmitthe AUL indicator, where the AUL indicator may be sent when UE 115-a hasdata to transmit or when UE 115-a does not have data to transmit. UE115-a may also determine to update a transmit beam 205 based on downlinksignal measurements, and UE 115-a may transmit the AUL indicator basedat least in part on this determination. In some examples, base station105-a may configure UE 115-a to perform the functions described herein.

Accordingly, through various AUL resource configuration schemes, variousprocesses may be used to enable efficient AUL transmissions usingdirectional beams. For instance, a single-step process may include UE115-a identifying a set of AUL resources corresponding to a desiredreceive beam 210 or resource that is assigned to UE 115-a, and UE 115-amay then perform an AUL transmission on that set of AUL resources. In atwo-step process, base station 105-a may send a trigger to notify UE115-a that AUL resources are available. UE 115-a may thus use the set ofAUL resources if it detects the trigger and/or if the trigger matches areceive beam 210. Additionally or alternatively, in another two-stepprocess, UE 115-a may transmit a sensing signal to base station 105-a.In such cases, UE 115-a may identify one or more AUL sensing resources(e.g., a sensing portion 225), which may correspond to a desired receivebeam 210 at base station 105-a (e.g., if UE 115-a is aware of thereceive beam 210 for that resource). UE 115-a may then transmit thesensing signal (or AUL indicator) on the one or more AUL sensingresources as well as a PUSCH transmission. In this case, sensing by basestation 105-a may be along a particular receive beam 210, or may bealong multiple receive beams 210 or omni-directional. Thus, sensingresources for different receive beams 210 may be overlapping.Subsequently, base station 105-a may adapt its receive beam 210 for theset of AUL resources (and the PUSCH transmission) based on the sensingoperation.

In other examples, a three-step process may be used for AULtransmissions using directional beams. For instance, UE 115-a maytransmit a sensing signal without sending uplink data. Base station105-a may detect the sensing signal and then send the trigger signal (orDCI) that may enable UE 115-a to identify whether UE 115-a may proceedwith an AUL transmission of uplink data (e.g., on PUSCH). If it isdetermined that AUL resources are available for such transmissions, thenUE 115-a may proceed with transmitting the uplink data.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of AUL resource configurations 301and 302 in a system that supports AUL with analog beams in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure. Aspects of AUL resourceconfigurations 301 and 302 may be implemented by a UE 115 and a basestation 105, which may be examples of corresponding devices with respectto wireless communications systems 100 and 200. AUL resourceconfigurations 301 and 302 may illustrate an example of AUL resourcesthat are configured for specific receive beams at a base station 105.

For example, AUL resource configuration 301 may include multiple sets ofAUL resources 305, where the respective sets of AUL resources 305 may beconfigured such that they do not overlap in time. As described herein, abase station 105 may configure AUL resources to be beam specific. As aresult, each set of AUL resources 305 may be specific to a receive beamat the base station 105. For instance, a first set of beam-specific AULresources 305-a may be specific to a first AUL receive beam (e.g., beam1), a second set of beam-specific AUL resources 305-b may be specific toa second AUL receive beam (e.g., beam 2), and so forth. In such cases,the AUL resources may be multiplexed such that one AUL resource beginsafter the prior AUL resource ends. That is, the sets of AUL resources305-a, 305-b, 305-c may be non-overlapping.

In using AUL resource configuration 301, a UE 115 may determine that afirst set of beam-specific AUL resources 305 is available (e.g., a UE115 may determine that its transmissions may be detected by a basestation 105 when the base station 105 uses a receive beam (e.g., beam1)), and may select the first set of beam-specific AUL resources 305that corresponds to a receive beam at the base station 105 for acorresponding transmit beam the UE 115 is using (e.g., a beam foundthrough a beam refinement procedure with the base station 105).Likewise, another UE 115 may select a second set of beam-specific AULresources 305-b for an AUL transmission. The base station 105 mayaccordingly receive AUL transmissions from each UE 115 on the respectivesets of beam-specific AUL resources 305 using a different receive beamassociated with a different AUL resource 305. As described herein, eachAUL resource 305 may include a sensing portion, or a data portion, orboth.

AUL resource configuration 302 may illustrate AUL resources 305 withboth non-overlapping and overlapping portions. For example, the AULresources may be multiplexed such that, while a data portion of the AULresources 305-d, 305-e, and 305-f overlap with each other, therespective sensing portions of different AUL resources 305 may notoverlap. In such a case, a base station 105 may monitor for the sensingportions of the respective AUL resources 305, and when the base station105 detects a sensing portion (e.g., detects a sensing signal or an AULindicator) of an AUL resource 305, the base station 105 may monitor therest of the AUL resource 305 for the data portion.

As an example, there may be no UE 115 performing an AUL transmissionusing a first set of beam-specific AUL resources 305-d corresponding toa first receive beam. However, a first UE 115 may perform an AULtransmission using a second set of beam-specific AUL resources 305-e fora second receive beam, and a second UE 115 may perform an AULtransmission using a third set of beam-specific AUL resources 305-f fora third receive beam. In such cases, the sensing portions of the secondset of beam-specific AUL resources 305-e and the third set ofbeam-specific AUL resources 305-f may not overlap in time, which mayenable the base station 105 to efficiently detect a sensing portion ofbeam-specific AUL resources 305.

A base station 105 may attempt to detect the first transmit beam, butsince the first set of beam-specific AUL resources 305-d may not carryan AUL transmission, the base station 105 may not detect any sensingsignals on the first transmit beam. The base station 105 may thenattempt to detect the second transmit beam, and upon detecting thesensing portion of the second set of beam-specific AUL resource 305-e,the base station 105 may continue to monitor the second transmit beamfor a subsequent data portion of the second set of beam-specific AULresources 305-e. Because a sensing portion of the third set ofbeam-specific AUL resource 305-f may overlap in time with the dataportion of AUL resources 305, the base station 105 may not detect theAUL transmission on the third set of beam-specific AUL resources 305-funtil after finishing monitoring the second receive beam.

In the example of AUL resource configuration 302, a base station 105 mayreceive data from only one UE 115 at any given time. An advantage oftechniques utilizing AUL resource configuration 302 having overlappingAUL resources may be that a number of resources reserved for AULtransmissions are lower (e.g., as compared to cases where resources donot overlap). In the examples when most UEs 115 are not transmitting AULdata on the AUL resources, and chances of collision of AUL transmissionsof two UEs 115 configured with overlapping resources are low, thisapproach may allow data to be transmitted successfully in most caseswith reduced overhead.

In some cases, a DMRS for a PUSCH transmission may be used for thesensing signal in the sensing portion of each set of beam-specific AULresources 305. The sensing portion may provide for a processing delay ofsensing and switching time (e.g., for a beam change). In some cases, theorder of the receive beams (e.g., the order in which the AUL resourcesfor respective beams are available in time) may change, and may bemodified over time, for example, to enable fairness across differentreceive beams (which may correspond to different UEs 115, andaccordingly ensure fairness for those users). In some examples, theresources mentioned as beam-specific AUL resources may also beconfigured as sets of AUL resources per UE 115 (e.g., UE-specific),while a particular UE 115 may not be aware of the associated receivebeam.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of AUL resource configurations 401and 402 that supports AUL with analog beams in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure. Aspects of AUL resourceconfigurations 401 and 402 may be implemented by a UE 115 and a basestation 105, which may be examples of corresponding devices with respectto wireless communications systems 100 and 200. AUL resourceconfigurations 401 and 402 may illustrate an example of AUL resourcesthat are configured for users or user groups. User-specific AUL resourceconfigurations 401 and 402 may be desirable when UEs 115 are likely totransmit uplink data frequently on their assigned resources (e.g.,semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) applications such as voice/video call).

For example, in AUL resource configuration 401, sets of AUL resources405-a may have overlapping sensing portions 410-a, where a data portion415-a may be non-overlapping and time division multiplexed. In suchcases, a base station 105 may support a multi-beam sensing capability(e.g., omni-directional sensing) that allows the base station 105 toreceive multiple transmit beams from different directions when a sensingportion 410 is transmitted. In such cases, UEs 115 may simultaneouslytransmit their respective AUL transmissions including sensing signals tothe base station 105.

Based on the presence and/or a received signal strength of the receivedsensing signals, the base station 105 may determine the beam directionof each UE 115 that may be performing an AUL transmission. Accordingly,the base station 105 may tune its receive beam prior to or during dataportion 415-a to align with the determined transmit beam pathscorresponding to a UE 115, which may allow the base station 105 toreceive the respective data portion 415-a from the UE 115. A UE 115 maymultiplex its respective data portions 415 along the same transmit beampath as their respective sensing signals, where the base station 105 maybe capable of receiving the data portions after tuning or re-tuning itsreceive beams to align with the respective transmit beams of the UEs115. In some examples, the UEs 115 may transmit DMRS for both thesensing portion 410-a and the data portion 415-a due to a base stationreceive beam change at the base station 105.

Additionally or alternatively, and as illustrated in AUL resourceconfiguration 402, respective sensing portions 410 for different basestation receive beams may be time division multiplexed andnon-overlapping for different beams, and the data portion 415 may alsobe non-overlapping and time division multiplexed. A UE 115 may transmitan AUL indication or a sensing signal to a base station 105 in one ormore of the sensing portions 410, where the multiple sensing portions410 are multiplexed such that they do not overlap in time. For example,sensing portions 410-b, 410-c, and 410-d may each correspond to adifferent receive beam, and may be multiplexed such that they do notoverlap in time. As a result, a UE 115, with uplink data to transmit,may transmit in one (or more) of the sensing portions 410 and then inthe data portion 415. In some cases, if the UE 115 is aware of a mappingbetween a sensing portion 410 and a receive bean at the base station105, the UE 115 may transmit the sensing signal only on the associatedbeam. Upon sensing an AUL indicator or sensing signal in one or more ofthe sensing portions 410, the base station 105 may tune its receive beamto receive a data portion 415-b of an AUL transmission. In some cases, acombination of the various options described herein may be used fordifferent groups of beams. For example, different options may beutilized based on a type of data sent in the AUL transmission (e.g., SPSapplications such as voice/video calls versus random transmissions, suchas web browsing).

In some cases, a base station 105 may also indicate (e.g., through DCIor a downlink trigger) which UE 115 (e.g., of a set of UEs 115) maytransmit using a set of AUL resources 405. The downlink trigger may betransmitted along a beam path that corresponds to the tuned receivebeam. Additionally or alternatively, the downlink trigger may be sentalong a beam path that may be defined using the same beamforming weightsas the tuned receive beams. In such cases, the UE 115 may monitor thetrigger to see if a transmitted sensing signal (or AUL indicator) sentin a sensing portion 410 was accepted. If a trigger signal is received,then the UE 115 may proceed with performing an AUL transmission.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a process flow 500 in a system thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. In some examples, process flow 500 may implementaspects of wireless communications system 100. For example, process flowincludes base station 105-b and UE 115-c, which may be examples of thecorresponding devices described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Processflow 500 may illustrate an example of different AUL resourceconfigurations to enable efficient AUL transmissions with analog beams(e.g., in a mmW communications system).

At 505, base station 105-b may identify a set of AUL resources for oneor more UEs 115 (e.g., including UE 115-c). The AUL resources may beidentified for use in AUL transmissions by the UEs 115. At 510, basestation 105-b may determine an AUL configuration for a set of AULresources and one or more AUL receive beams of base station 105-b. Insome examples, the set of AUL resources may be specific to an AULreceive beam of base station 105-b. In other examples, the AUL resourcesmay not be specific to a particular beam, but may be specific to UE115-c, or to a group of users. Base station 105-b may configure the setof AUL resources such that the AUL resources may be multiplexed (e.g.,time division multiplexed) with a second set of AUL resources, where thesecond set of AUL resources may be specific to a second AUL receive beamof base station 105-b.

In some cases, base station 105-b may configure the set of beam-specificAUL resources to include a first portion and a second portion. The firstportion may be non-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AULresources and the second portion may at least partially overlap with thesecond set of AUL resources, where the second set of AUL resources maybe specific to a second AUL receive beam of base station 105-b.Additionally or alternatively, base station 105-b may configure a set ofbeam-specific AUL resources to be TDM with the second set of AULresources. In some cases, the first portion may be used by UE 115-c fora sensing signal and the second portion may be used for uplink data.

At 515, base station 105-b may transmit, to UE 115-c, the AULconfiguration including an indication of the set of AUL resources.Transmitting the AUL configuration transmission may include transmittingone or more of: an RRC message including the AUL configuration, DCIincluding the AUL configuration, or a trigger signal including the AULconfiguration. The AUL configuration information may include a triggersignal configuration, where the trigger signal configuration maycomprise an indication of time/frequency resources associated with atrigger signal and information for processing the trigger signal.

At 520, UE 115-c may identify uplink data for an AUL transmission tobase station 105-b. At 525, base station 105-b may transmit a triggersignal, which may include an indication that the set of AUL resourcesmay be available for AUL transmissions. At 525, UE 115-c may optionallytransmit a sensing signal. For example, UE 115-c may transmit a sensingsignal without uplink data. Base station 105-b may detect the sensingsignal and, in response, transmit a trigger signal including anindication that the set of AUL resources is available for AULtransmissions by UE 115-c at 530.

In other cases, base station 105-b may transmit the trigger signal at530 to indicate to UE 115-c whether the AUL resources are available. Thetrigger signal may be transmitted using a transmit beam that maycorrespond to an AUL receive beam for receiving a second portion (a dataportion) of an AUL transmission. In some cases, the trigger signal mayinclude a sensing resource identifier, UE identity information, a beamidentity, uplink resource allocation corresponding to a set of beams, awaveform to use for a PUSCH, or a combination thereof. The transmissioninformation may be carried at least partially through a scrambling codeassociated with the AUL indicator, an orthogonal cover code associatedwith the AUL indicator, a cyclic shift associated with the AULindicator, a frequency comb associated with the AUL indicator, or acombination thereof. In some examples, the trigger signal comprises RRCmessaging, DCI, downlink messaging, a PDCCH, a reference signal, asynchronization signal burst, or a combination thereof.

In some examples, the PDCCH may indicate a subset of AUL resources thatmay be available within the set of beam-specific AUL resources. ThePDCCH may indicate a second trigger signal associated with the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources. The second trigger signal may be used todetermine whether the set of beam-specific AUL resources may beavailable for the AUL transmission by UE 115-c. Additionally oralternatively, the second trigger may comprise a comprises a secondreference signal, or signaling within a synchronization signal burst, ora combination thereof.

At 535, UE 115-c may determine whether the set of beam-specific AULresources may be available for an AUL transmission. UE 115-c maydetermine that the set of beam-specific AUL resources may be availablefor the AUL transmission by UE 115-c based at least in part on one ormore of: receiving the trigger signal (e.g., at 530), determining that asignal strength of the trigger signal may satisfy a threshold, apresence or absence of the trigger signal, or decoding the triggersignal.

At 540, UE 115-c may perform an AUL transmission of the uplink data tobase station 105-b using the set of beam-specific AUL resources based atleast in part on a determination that the set of beam-specific AULresources may be available for the AUL transmission (e.g., in the caseof a beam-specific AUL resource configuration). Additionally, oralternatively, UE 115-c may perform the AUL transmission using the setof AUL resources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission includesa sensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission comprisesthe uplink data (e.g., in the case of a user-specific AUL resourceconfiguration).

In some examples, UE 115-c may perform the AUL transmission with one ormore repetitions of the data portion on the AUL resources. Additionallyor alternatively, UE 115-c may perform the AUL transmission with one ormore reference signals, where the sensing signal may comprise the one ormore reference signals. The one or more reference signals may comprisean SRS, or a DMRS, or a combination thereof. In some cases, UE 115-c maytime division multiplex the first portion of the AUL transmission withthe second portion of the AUL transmission. Additionally oralternatively, the uplink data may include one or more additionalreference signals.

In some examples, base station 105-b may receive from UE 115-c an AULindicator within the first portion of the AUL transmission, where theAUL indicator may be multiplexed with the uplink data in the firstportion of the set of beam-specific AUL resources. The AUL indicator maycomprise an indication of a priority of the uplink data, a waveform fora PUSCH, an MCS, an RV, a time/frequency resource allocation for asubsequent uplink data transmission, UE identity information, transmitbeam information, an indication of a preferred receive beam to be usedto receive AUL transmissions, or a combination thereof. In someexamples, the AUL indicator may serve as a DMRS for the uplink data. TheAUL receive beam may comprise a mmW communications beam. Thetransmission information may be carried at least partially through ascrambling code associated with the AUL indicator, an orthogonal covercode associated with the AUL indicator, a cyclic shift associated withthe AUL indicator, a frequency comb associated with the AUL indicator,or a combination thereof.

Base station 105-b may accordingly monitor for one or more sensingsignals corresponding to a set of AUL beams. For example, base station105-b may monitor in a plurality of beam directions during the firstportion of the AUL transmission. Additionally or alternatively, basestation 105-b may monitor different beam directions in respective timedivision multiplexed portions of the AUL transmission.

In some cases, at 535, base station 105-b may determine an AUL receivebeam for receiving the second portion of the AUL transmission. The AULreceive beam may correspond to the set of AUL resources, where the AULreceive beam may be determined based at least in part on the sensingsignal received within the AUL transmission.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram 600 of a wireless device 605 that supportsAUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. Wireless device 605 may be an example of aspects of a UE 115as described herein. Wireless device 605 may include receiver 610, UEcommunications manager 615, and transmitter 620. Wireless device 605 mayalso include a processor. Each of these components may be incommunication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Receiver 610 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to AUL withanalog beams, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components ofthe device. The receiver 610 may be an example of aspects of thetransceiver 935 described with reference to FIG. 9. The receiver 610 mayutilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

UE communications manager 615 may be an example of aspects of the UEcommunications manager 915 described with reference to FIG. 9. UEcommunications manager 615 and/or at least some of its varioussub-components may be implemented in hardware, software executed by aprocessor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented insoftware executed by a processor, the functions of the UE communicationsmanager 615 and/or at least some of its various sub-components may beexecuted by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), anfield-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described in thepresent disclosure.

The UE communications manager 615 and/or at least some of its varioussub-components may be physically located at various positions, includingbeing distributed such that portions of functions are implemented atdifferent physical locations by one or more physical devices. In someexamples, UE communications manager 615 and/or at least some of itsvarious sub-components may be a separate and distinct component inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In otherexamples, UE communications manager 615 and/or at least some of itsvarious sub-components may be combined with one or more other hardwarecomponents, including but not limited to an I/O component, atransceiver, a network server, another computing device, one or moreother components described in the present disclosure, or a combinationthereof in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

UE communications manager 615 may receive, from a base station 105, anAUL configuration including an indication of a set of AUL resources fora UE 115, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AUL receivebeam of the base station 105, identify uplink data for an AULtransmission to the base station 105, and determine whether the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmission by theUE 115. UE communications manager 615 may perform an AUL transmission ofthe uplink data to the base station 105 using the set of beam-specificAUL resources based on a determination that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission.

In some cases, the UE communications manager 615 may also receive, froma base station 105, an AUL configuration including an indication of aset of AUL resources for a UE 115, identify uplink data for an AULtransmission to the base station 105, and perform the AUL transmissionusing the set of AUL resources, where a first portion of the AULtransmission includes a sensing signal and a second portion of the AULtransmission includes the uplink data.

Transmitter 620 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device. In some examples, the transmitter 620 may be collocated witha receiver 610 in a transceiver module. For example, the transmitter 620may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 935 described withreference to FIG. 9. The transmitter 620 may utilize a single antenna ora set of antennas.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram 700 of a wireless device 705 that supportsAUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. Wireless device 705 may be an example of aspects of awireless device 605 or a UE 115 as described with reference to FIG. 6.Wireless device 705 may include receiver 710, UE communications manager715, and transmitter 720. Wireless device 705 may also include aprocessor. Each of these components may be in communication with oneanother (e.g., via one or more buses).

Receiver 710 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to AUL withanalog beams, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components ofthe device. The receiver 710 may be an example of aspects of thetransceiver 935 described with reference to FIG. 9. The receiver 710 mayutilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

UE communications manager 715 may be an example of aspects of the UEcommunications manager 915 described with reference to FIG. 9. UEcommunications manager 715 may also include UE AUL configuration manager725, data manager 730, UE AUL resource manager 735, and AUL transmissioncomponent 740.

UE AUL configuration manager 725 may receive, from a base station 105,an AUL configuration including an indication of a set of AUL resourcesfor a UE 115, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AULreceive beam of the base station 105. In other cases, the AULconfiguration may include an indication of a set of AUL resourcesspecific to the UE 115. In some cases, receiving the AUL configurationincludes receiving one or more of: an RRC message including the AULconfiguration, DCI including the AUL configuration, or a trigger signalincluding the AUL configuration. In some cases, the AUL configurationincludes a trigger signal configuration, where the trigger signalconfiguration used to determine time/frequency resources associated witha trigger signal and may be used to process the trigger signal. In somecases, the AUL receive beam includes a mmW communications beam.

Data manager 730 may identify uplink data for an AUL transmission to thebase station 105. UE AUL resource manager 735 may determine whether theset of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmissionby the UE 115. For example, UE AUL resource manager 735 may determinethat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission by the UE 115 based on the trigger signal, where an AULtransmission is performed based on the received trigger signal.Additionally or alternatively, UE AUL resource manager 735 may determinethat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission based on decoding the trigger signal.

In some cases, determining that the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesis available for the AUL transmission includes determining that the setof beam-specific AUL resources is available based on a signal strengthof the trigger signal satisfying a threshold. In some cases, determiningwhether the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission includes determining that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission based on a presence ofthe trigger signal or an absence of the trigger signal. In some cases,the set of beam-specific AUL resources is TDM with a second set of AULresources, where the second set of AUL resources is specific to a secondAUL receive beam of the base station 105.

AUL transmission component 740 may perform an AUL transmission of theuplink data to the base station 105 using the set of beam-specific AULresources based on a determination that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission. In some examples, AULtransmission component 740 may perform the AUL transmission using theset of AUL resources, where a first portion of the AUL transmissionincludes a sensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmissionincludes the uplink data. In some cases, AUL transmission component 740may perform the AUL transmission based on the received trigger signal.

In some cases, a first portion of the AUL transmission includes a firstportion and a second portion, where the first portion may benon-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AUL resources and thesecond portion may be at least partially overlapping with the second setof AUL resources. In some cases, the second set of AUL resources may bespecific to a second AUL receive beam of the base station 105. In somecases, performing the AUL transmission includes transmitting the uplinkdata within the first portion and the second portion of the AULtransmission, and transmitting an AUL indicator within the firstportion, where the AUL indicator is multiplexed with the uplink data. Insome cases, performing the AUL transmission includes performing the AULtransmission with one or more repetitions of the uplink data on the setof AUL resources. In some examples, performing the AUL transmissionincludes performing the AUL transmission with one or more referencesignals within the first portion of the AUL transmission, where thesensing signal may include the one or more reference signals. In somecases, the one or more reference signals include an SRS, or a DMRS, or acombination thereof.

In some examples, the first portion of the AUL transmission may be TDMwith the second portion, and where the uplink data includes one or moreadditional reference signals. The sensing signal may include an AULindicator that includes transmission information including an indicationof a priority of the uplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, an MCS, an RV,a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent data transmission,UE identity information, transmit beam information, an indication of areceive beam to be used to receive the AUL transmission, or acombination thereof. In some cases, the transmission information is atleast partially carried through a scrambling code associated with theAUL indicator, an orthogonal cover code associated with the AULindicator, a cyclic shift associated with the AUL indicator, a frequencycomb associated with the AUL indicator, or a combination thereof.

Transmitter 720 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device. In some examples, the transmitter 720 may be collocated witha receiver 710 in a transceiver module. For example, the transmitter 720may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 935 described withreference to FIG. 9. The transmitter 720 may utilize a single antenna ora set of antennas.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram 800 of a UE communications manager 815 thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The UE communications manager 815 may be an example ofaspects of a UE communications manager 615, a UE communications manager715, or a UE communications manager 915 described with reference toFIGS. 6, 7, and 9. The UE communications manager 815 may include UE AULconfiguration manager 820, data manager 825, UE AUL resource manager830, AUL transmission component 835, trigger signal manager 840, decoder845, and AUL indicator component 850. Each of these modules maycommunicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one ormore buses).

UE AUL configuration manager 820 may receive, from a base station 105,an AUL configuration including an indication of a set of AUL resourcesfor a UE 115, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AULreceive beam of the base station 105. In other examples, the AULconfiguration may include an indication of a set of AUL resourcesspecific to the UE 115. In some cases, receiving the AUL configurationincludes receiving one or more of: an RRC message including the AULconfiguration, DCI including the AUL configuration, or a trigger signalincluding the AUL configuration. In some cases, the AUL configurationincludes a trigger signal configuration, where the trigger signalconfiguration used to determine time/frequency resources associated witha trigger signal and may be used to process the trigger signal. In somecases, the AUL receive beam includes a mmW communications beam.

Data manager 825 may identify uplink data for an AUL transmission to thebase station 105. UE AUL resource manager 830 may determine whether theset of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmissionby the UE 115. For example, UE AUL resource manager 830 may determinethat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission by the UE 115 based on the trigger signal, where an AULtransmission is performed based on the received trigger signal.Additionally or alternatively, UE AUL resource manager 830 may determinethat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission based on decoding the trigger signal.

In some cases, determining that the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesis available for the AUL transmission includes determining that the setof beam-specific AUL resources is available based on a signal strengthof the trigger signal satisfying a threshold. In some cases, determiningwhether the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission includes determining that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission based on a presence ofthe trigger signal or an absence of the trigger signal. In some cases,the set of beam-specific AUL resources is TDM with a second set of AULresources, where the second set of AUL resources is specific to a secondAUL receive beam of the base station 105.

AUL transmission component 835 may perform an AUL transmission of theuplink data to the base station 105 using the set of beam-specific AULresources based on a determination that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission. In some examples, AULtransmission component 835 may perform the AUL transmission using theset of AUL resources, where a first portion of the AUL transmissionincludes a sensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmissionincludes the uplink data. In some cases, AUL transmission component 835may perform the AUL transmission based on the received trigger signal.

In some cases, a first portion of the AUL transmission includes at leasta sensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission includesthe uplink data. In some examples, the first portion may benon-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AUL resources and thesecond portion may be at least partially overlapping with the second setof AUL resources, where the second set of AUL resources is specific to asecond AUL receive beam of the base station 105. In some cases,performing the AUL transmission includes performing the AUL transmissionwith one or more repetitions of the uplink data on the set of AULresources. In some examples, performing the AUL transmission includesperforming the AUL transmission with one or more reference signalswithin the first portion of the AUL transmission, where the sensingsignal may include the one or more reference signals. In some cases, theone or more reference signals include an SRS, or a DMRS, or acombination thereof.

In some examples, the first portion of the AUL transmission may be TDMwith the second portion, and where the uplink data includes one or moreadditional reference signals. The sensing signal may include an AULindicator that includes transmission information including an indicationof a priority of the uplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, an MCS, an RV,a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent data transmission,UE identity information, transmit beam information, an indication of areceive beam to be used to receive the AUL transmission, or acombination thereof. In some cases, the transmission information is atleast partially carried through a scrambling code associated with theAUL indicator, an orthogonal cover code associated with the AULindicator, a cyclic shift associated with the AUL indicator, a frequencycomb associated with the AUL indicator, or a combination thereof.

Trigger signal manager 840 may receive, from the base station 105, atrigger signal associated with the set of beam-specific AUL resources.For example, trigger signal manager 840 may receive, in response to thetransmitted sensing signal, a trigger signal including an indicationthat the set of AUL resources is available for AUL transmissions by theUE 115. In some cases, the trigger signal includes one or more of: RRCmessaging, DCI, downlink messaging, a PDCCH, a reference signal, orsignaling within a synchronization signal burst. In some cases, thePDCCH indicates a subset of AUL resources that is available within theset of beam-specific AUL resources. In some examples, the PDCCHindicates a second trigger signal associated with the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources, and where the second trigger signal is usedto determine whether the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablefor the AUL transmission by the UE 115. In some cases, the secondtrigger signal includes a reference signal, or signaling within asynchronization signal burst, or a combination thereof. In some cases,the trigger signal includes a sensing resource identifier, UE identityinformation, a beam identity, uplink resource allocation correspondingto a set of beams, a waveform to use for a PUSCH, or a combinationthereof.

Decoder 845 may decode the trigger signal. AUL indicator component 850may transmit an AUL indicator within the first portion of the AULtransmission, where the AUL indicator is multiplexed with the uplinkdata in the first portion of the AUL transmission. In some cases, theAUL indicator serves as DMRSs for the uplink data. In some cases, theAUL indicator includes transmission information including an indicationof a priority of the uplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, an MCS, an RV,a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent uplink datatransmission, UE identity information, transmit beam information, anindication of a preferred receive beam to be used to receive AULtransmissions, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the transmissioninformation is at least partially carried through a scrambling codeassociated with the AUL indicator, an orthogonal cover code associatedwith the AUL indicator, a cyclic shift associated with the AULindicator, a frequency comb associated with the AUL indicator, or acombination thereof.

FIG. 9 shows a diagram of a system 900 including a device 905 thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. Device 905 may be an example of or include the components ofwireless device 605, wireless device 705, or a UE 115 as describedherein, e.g., with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Device 905 may includecomponents for bi-directional voice and data communications includingcomponents for transmitting and receiving communications, including UEcommunications manager 915, processor 920, memory 925, software 930,transceiver 935, antenna 940, and I/O controller 945. These componentsmay be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus910). Device 905 may communicate wirelessly with one or more basestations 105.

Processor 920 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), amicrocontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, adiscrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardwarecomponent, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 920 maybe configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. Inother cases, a memory controller may be integrated into processor 920.Processor 920 may be configured to execute computer-readableinstructions stored in a memory to perform various functions (e.g.,functions or tasks supporting AUL with analog beams).

Memory 925 may include random-access memory (RAM) and read-only memory(ROM). The memory 925 may store computer-readable, computer-executablesoftware 930 including instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor to perform various functions described herein. In some cases,the memory 925 may contain, among other things, a basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) which may control basic hardware or software operationsuch as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

Software 930 may include code to implement aspects of the presentdisclosure, including code to support AUL with analog beams. Software930 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such assystem memory or other memory. In some cases, the software 930 may notbe directly executable by the processor but may cause a computer (e.g.,when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein.

Transceiver 935 may communicate bi-directionally, via one or moreantennas, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, thetransceiver 935 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicatebi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 935may also include a modem to modulate the packets and provide themodulated packets to the antennas for transmission, and to demodulatepackets received from the antennas. In some cases, the wireless devicemay include a single antenna 940. However, in some cases the device mayhave more than one antenna 940, which may be capable of concurrentlytransmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions.

I/O controller 945 may manage input and output signals for device 905.I/O controller 945 may also manage peripherals not integrated intodevice 905. In some cases, I/O controller 945 may represent a physicalconnection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, I/Ocontroller 945 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®,MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operatingsystem. In other cases, I/O controller 945 may represent or interactwith a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device.In some cases, I/O controller 945 may be implemented as part of aprocessor. In some cases, a user may interact with device 905 via I/Ocontroller 945 or via hardware components controlled by I/O controller945.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram 1000 of a wireless device 1005 thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. Wireless device 1005 may be an example of aspects of a basestation 105 as described herein. Wireless device 1005 may includereceiver 1010, base station communications manager 1015, and transmitter1020. Wireless device 1005 may also include a processor. Each of thesecomponents may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one ormore buses).

Receiver 1010 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to AUL withanalog beams, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components ofthe device. The receiver 1010 may be an example of aspects of thetransceiver 1335 described with reference to FIG. 13. The receiver 1010may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

Base station communications manager 1015 may be an example of aspects ofthe base station communications manager 1315 described with reference toFIG. 13. Base station communications manager 1015 and/or at least someof its various sub-components may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions of thebase station communications manager 1015 and/or at least some of itsvarious sub-components may be executed by a general-purpose processor, aDSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gateor transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described in the presentdisclosure.

The base station communications manager 1015 and/or at least some of itsvarious sub-components may be physically located at various positions,including being distributed such that portions of functions areimplemented at different physical locations by one or more physicaldevices. In some examples, base station communications manager 1015and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be a separate anddistinct component in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. In other examples, base station communications manager 1015and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be combined withone or more other hardware components, including but not limited to anI/O component, a transceiver, a network server, another computingdevice, one or more other components described in the presentdisclosure, or a combination thereof in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure.

Base station communications manager 1015 may identify a set of AULresources for a UE 115, determine an AUL configuration for the set ofAUL resources and one or more AUL receive beams of the base station,where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AUL receive beam of thebase station 105, transmit, to the UE 115, the AUL configurationincluding an indication of the set of beam-specific AUL resources, andreceive an AUL transmission from the UE 115 in accordance with the AULconfiguration, where the AUL transmission is received using the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources and the AUL receive beam.

The base station communications manager 1015 may also transmit, to a UE115, an AUL configuration including an indication of a set of AULresources for the UE 115, receive, from the UE 115, an AUL transmissionon the set of AUL resources, where a first portion of the AULtransmission includes a sensing signal and a second portion of the AULtransmission includes uplink data, and determine an AUL receive beam forreceiving the second portion of the AUL transmission, the AUL receivebeam corresponding to the set of AUL resources, where the AUL receivebeam is determined based on the sensing signal.

Transmitter 1020 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device. In some examples, the transmitter 1020 may be collocatedwith a receiver 1010 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 1020 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 1335described with reference to FIG. 13. The transmitter 1020 may utilize asingle antenna or a set of antennas.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram 1100 of a wireless device 1105 thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. Wireless device 1105 may be an example of aspects of awireless device 1005 or a base station 105 as described with referenceto FIG. 10. Wireless device 1105 may include receiver 1110, base stationcommunications manager 1115, and transmitter 1120. Wireless device 1105may also include a processor. Each of these components may be incommunication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Receiver 1110 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to AUL withanalog beams, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components ofthe device. The receiver 1110 may be an example of aspects of thetransceiver 1335 described with reference to FIG. 13. The receiver 1110may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

Base station communications manager 1115 may be an example of aspects ofthe base station communications manager 1315 described with reference toFIG. 13. Base station communications manager 1115 may also include basestation AUL resource manager 1125, base station AUL configurationmanager 1130, AUL reception component 1135, and receive beam manager1140.

Base station AUL resource manager 1125 may identify a set of AULresources for a UE 115 and determine that the set of beam-specific AULresources are available for AUL transmissions by the UE 115. Basestation AUL configuration manager 1130 may determine an AULconfiguration for the set of AUL resources and one or more AUL receivebeams of the base station 105, where the set of AUL resources isspecific to an AUL receive beam of the base station 105. In someexamples, base station AUL configuration manager 1130 may transmit, tothe UE 115, the AUL configuration including an indication of the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources. In some cases, base station AULconfiguration manager 1130 may configure the set of beam-specific AULresources to be TDM (and non-overlapping) with a second set of AULresources, where the second set of AUL resources is specific to a secondAUL receive beam of the base station 105

Additionally or alternatively, base station AUL configuration manager1130 may configure the set of beam-specific AUL resources to include afirst portion and a second portion, the first portion beingnon-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AUL resources and thesecond portion at least partially overlapping with the second set of AULresources, where the second set of AUL resources is specific to a secondAUL receive beam of the base station 105. In some cases, base stationAUL configuration manager 1130 may transmit, to the UE 115, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE 115. In some cases, transmitting the AUL configuration includestransmitting one or more of: an RRC message including the AULconfiguration, DCI including the AUL configuration, or a trigger signalincluding the AUL configuration.

AUL reception component 1135 may receive an AUL transmission from the UE115 in accordance with the AUL configuration, where the AUL transmissionis received using the set of beam-specific AUL resources and the AULreceive beam. Additionally or alternatively, AUL reception component1135 may receive, from the UE 115, an AUL transmission on the set of AULresources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission includes asensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission includesuplink data. In some cases, AUL reception component 1135 may receive theAUL transmission based on the transmitted trigger signal.

In some cases, the AUL transmission includes one or more repetitions ofthe uplink data on the set of AUL resources. In some examples, thesensing signal includes one or more reference signals transmitted withinthe first portion of the AUL transmission. In some cases, the firstportion of the AUL transmission is TDM with the second portion, andwhere the uplink data includes one or more additional reference signals.In some cases, the sensing signal includes an AUL indicator thatincludes transmission information including an indication of a priorityof the uplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, an MCS, an RV, atime/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent data transmission,UE 115 identity information, transmit beam information, an indication ofa receive beam to be used to receive the AUL transmission, or acombination thereof.

Receive beam manager 1140 may determine an AUL receive beam forreceiving the second portion of the AUL transmission. In some cases, theAUL receive beam may correspond to the set of AUL resources, and the AULreceive beam may be determined based on the sensing signal, wheredetermining the AUL receive beam for receiving the second portion of theAUL transmission is based on the monitoring.

Transmitter 1120 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device. In some examples, the transmitter 1120 may be collocatedwith a receiver 1110 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 1120 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 1335described with reference to FIG. 13. The transmitter 1120 may utilize asingle antenna or a set of antennas.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram 1200 of a base station communicationsmanager 1215 that supports AUL with analog beams in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure. The base station communicationsmanager 1215 may be an example of aspects of a base stationcommunications manager 1315 described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11,and 13. The base station communications manager 1215 may include basestation AUL resource manager 1220, base station AUL configurationmanager 1225, AUL reception component 1230, receive beam manager 1235,trigger signal component 1240, AUL indicator receiver 1245, and sensingsignal component 1250. Each of these modules may communicate, directlyor indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Base station AUL resource manager 1220 may identify a set of AULresources for a UE 115 and determine that the set of beam-specific AULresources are available for AUL transmissions by the UE 115. Basestation AUL configuration manager 1225 may determine an AULconfiguration for the set of AUL resources and one or more AUL receivebeams of the base station 105, where the set of AUL resources isspecific to an AUL receive beam of the base station 105. In someexamples, base station AUL configuration manager 1225 may transmit, tothe UE 115, the AUL configuration including an indication of the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources. In some cases, base station AULconfiguration manager 1225 may configure the set of beam-specific AULresources to be TDM (and non-overlapping) with a second set of AULresources, where the second set of AUL resources is specific to a secondAUL receive beam of the base station 105

Additionally or alternatively, base station AUL configuration manager1225 may configure the set of beam-specific AUL resources to include afirst portion and a second portion, the first portion beingnon-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AUL resources and thesecond portion at least partially overlapping with the second set of AULresources, where the second set of AUL resources is specific to a secondAUL receive beam of the base station 105. In some cases, base stationAUL configuration manager 1225 may transmit, to the UE 115, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE 115. In some cases, transmitting the AUL configuration includestransmitting one or more of: an RRC message including the AULconfiguration, DCI including the AUL configuration, or a trigger signalincluding the AUL configuration.

AUL reception component 1230 may receive an AUL transmission from the UE115 in accordance with the AUL configuration, where the AUL transmissionis received using the set of beam-specific AUL resources and the AULreceive beam. Additionally or alternatively, AUL reception component1230 may receive, from the UE 115, an AUL transmission on the set of AULresources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission includes asensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission includesuplink data. In some cases, AUL reception component 1230 may receive theAUL transmission based on the transmitted trigger signal.

In some cases, the AUL transmission includes one or more repetitions ofthe uplink data on the set of AUL resources. In some examples, thesensing signal includes one or more reference signals transmitted withinthe first portion of the AUL transmission. In some cases, the firstportion of the AUL transmission is TDM with the second portion, and theuplink data includes one or more additional reference signals. In somecases, the sensing signal includes an AUL indicator that includestransmission information including an indication of a priority of theuplink data, a waveform for a PUSCH, an MCS, an RV, a time/frequencyresource allocation for a subsequent data transmission, UE 115 identityinformation, transmit beam information, an indication of a receive beamto be used to receive the AUL transmission, or a combination thereof.

Receive beam manager 1235 may determine an AUL receive beam forreceiving the second portion of the AUL transmission, the AUL receivebeam corresponding to the set of AUL resources. In some cases, the AULreceive beam is determined based on the sensing signal and determiningthe AUL receive beam for receiving the second portion of the AULtransmission is based on the monitoring.

Trigger signal component 1240 may transmit a trigger signal including anindication that the set of beam-specific AUL resources are available forthe AUL transmissions based on the determination that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources are available. Trigger signal component 1240may transmit the trigger signal using a transmit beam corresponding tothe AUL receive beam. In some cases, trigger signal component 1240 maytransmit, within the AUL configuration, a trigger signal configuration,where the trigger signal configuration includes an indication oftime/frequency resources associated with a trigger signal andinformation for processing the trigger signal. In some examples, triggersignal component 1240 may transmit, in response to the received sensingsignal, a trigger signal including an indication that the set of AULresources are available for AUL transmissions.

In some cases, the trigger signal includes RRC messaging, DCI, downlinkmessaging, a PDCCH, a reference signal, a synchronization signal burst,or a combination thereof. In some cases, the trigger signal istransmitted using a transmit beam that corresponds to the AUL receivebeam for receiving the second portion of the AUL transmission. In somecases, the trigger signal includes a sensing resource identifier, UEidentity information, a beam identity, uplink resource allocationcorresponding to a set of beams, a waveform to use for a PUSCH, or acombination thereof.

AUL indicator receiver 1245 may receive, from the UE 115, an AULindicator within the first portion of the AUL transmission, where theAUL indicator is multiplexed with the uplink data in the first portionof the set of beam-specific AUL resources. In some cases, the AULindicator includes an indication of a priority of the uplink data, awaveform for a PUSCH, an MCS, an RV, a time/frequency resourceallocation for a subsequent uplink data transmission, UE identityinformation, transmit beam information, an indication of a preferredreceive beam to be used to receive AUL transmissions, or a combinationthereof.

Sensing signal component 1250 may monitor for one or more sensingsignals corresponding to a set of AUL beams, where a set of beamdirections are monitored in the first portion of the AUL transmission.Additionally or alternatively, sensing signal component 1250 may monitorfor one or more sensing signals corresponding to a set of AUL beams,where a different beam direction is monitored in respective TDM portionsof the AUL transmission.

FIG. 13 shows a diagram of a system 1300 including a device 1305 thatsupports AUL with analog beams in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. Device 1305 may be an example of or include the componentsof base station 105 as described herein, e.g., with reference to FIG. 1.Device 1305 may include components for bi-directional voice and datacommunications including components for transmitting and receivingcommunications, including base station communications manager 1315,processor 1320, memory 1325, software 1330, transceiver 1335, antenna1340, network communications manager 1345, and inter-stationcommunications manager 1350. These components may be in electroniccommunication via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1310). Device 1305 maycommunicate wirelessly with one or more UEs 115.

Processor 1320 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, anFPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logiccomponent, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof).In some cases, processor 1320 may be configured to operate a memoryarray using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller maybe integrated into processor 1320. Processor 1320 may be configured toexecute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory to performvarious functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting AUL with analogbeams).

Memory 1325 may include RAM and ROM. The memory 1325 may storecomputer-readable, computer-executable software 1330 includinginstructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform variousfunctions described herein. In some cases, the memory 1325 may contain,among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or softwareoperation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

Software 1330 may include code to implement aspects of the presentdisclosure, including code to support AUL with analog beams. Software1330 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such assystem memory or other memory. In some cases, the software 1330 may notbe directly executable by the processor but may cause a computer (e.g.,when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein.

Transceiver 1335 may communicate bi-directionally, via one or moreantennas, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, thetransceiver 1335 may represent a wireless transceiver and maycommunicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. Thetransceiver 1335 may also include a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to the antennas for transmission, and todemodulate packets received from the antennas. In some cases, thewireless device may include a single antenna 1340. However, in somecases the device may have more than one antenna 1340, which may becapable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wirelesstransmissions.

Network communications manager 1345 may manage communications with thecore network (e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example,the network communications manager 1345 may manage the transfer of datacommunications for client devices, such as one or more UEs 115.

Inter-station communications manager 1350 may manage communications withother base station 105 and may include a controller or scheduler forcontrolling communications with UEs 115 in cooperation with other basestations 105. For example, the inter-station communications manager 1350may coordinate scheduling for transmissions to UEs 115 for variousinterference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or jointtransmission. In some examples, inter-station communications manager1350 may provide an X2 interface within a Long Term Evolution(LTE)/LTE-A wireless communication network technology to providecommunication between base stations 105.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1400 for AUL with analogbeams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Theoperations of method 1400 may be implemented by a UE 115 or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1400 may be performed by a UE communications manager as described withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9. In some examples, the UE 115 may executea set of codes to control the functional elements of the device toperform the functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively,the UE 115 may perform aspects of the functions described herein usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At 1405 the UE 115 may receive, from a base station 105, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE 115, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AUL receivebeam of the base station 105. The operations of 1405 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspectsof the operations of 1405 may be performed by a UE AUL configurationmanager as described with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1410 the UE 115 may identify uplink data for an AUL transmission tothe base station 105. The operations of 1410 may be performed accordingto the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of theoperations of 1410 may be performed by a data manager as described withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1415 the UE 115 may determine whether the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission by the UE 115. Theoperations of 1415 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1415 may beperformed by a UE AUL resource manager as described with reference toFIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1420 the UE 115 may perform an AUL transmission of the uplink data tothe base station 105 using the set of beam-specific AUL resources basedat least in part on a determination that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission. The operations of 1420may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certainexamples, aspects of the operations of 1420 may be performed by an AULtransmission component as described with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1500 for AUL with analogbeams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Theoperations of method 1500 may be implemented by a UE 115 or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1500 may be performed by a UE communications manager as described withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9. In some examples, a UE 115 may execute aset of codes to control the functional elements of the device to performthe functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the UE115 may perform aspects of the functions described herein usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At 1505 the UE 115 may receive, from a base station 105, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE 115, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AUL receivebeam of the base station 105. The operations of 1505 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspectsof the operations of 1505 may be performed by a UE AUL configurationmanager as described with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1510 the UE 115 may identify uplink data for an AUL transmission tothe base station 105. The operations of 1510 may be performed accordingto the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of theoperations of 1510 may be performed by a data manager as described withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1515 the UE 115 may receive, from the base station 105, a triggersignal associated with the set of beam-specific AUL resources. Theoperations of 1515 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1515 may beperformed by a trigger signal manager as described with reference toFIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1520 the UE 115 may determine that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission by the UE 115 based atleast in part on the trigger signal, where the AUL transmission isperformed based on the received trigger signal. The operations of 1520may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certainexamples, aspects of the operations of 1520 may be performed by a UE AULresource manager as described with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1525 the UE 115 may perform an AUL transmission of the uplink data tothe base station 105 using the set of beam-specific AUL resources basedat least in part on a determination that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission. The operations of 1525may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certainexamples, aspects of the operations of 1525 may be performed by an AULtransmission component as described with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1600 for AUL with analogbeams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Theoperations of method 1600 may be implemented by a base station 105 orits components as described herein. For example, the operations ofmethod 1600 may be performed by a base station communications manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13. In some examples, abase station 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functionalelements of the device to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, the base station 105 may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1605 the base station 105 may identify a set of AUL resources for aUE 115. The operations of 1605 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1605may be performed by a base station AUL resource manager as describedwith reference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

At 1610 the base station 105 may determine an AUL configuration for theset of AUL resources and one or more AUL receive beams of the basestation 105, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AULreceive beam of the base station 105. The operations of 1610 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In certainexamples, aspects of the operations of 1610 may be performed by the basestation AUL configuration manager as described with reference to FIGS.10 through 13.

At 1615 the base station 105 may transmit, to the UE 115, the AULconfiguration including an indication of the set of beam-specific AULresources. The operations of 1615 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operationsof 1615 may be performed by a base station AUL configuration manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

At 1620 the base station 105 may receive an AUL transmission from the UE115 in accordance with the AUL configuration, where the AUL transmissionis received using the set of beam-specific AUL resources and the AULreceive beam. The operations of 1620 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operationsof 1620 may be performed by an AUL reception component as described withreference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1700 for AUL with analogbeams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Theoperations of method 1700 may be implemented by a base station 105 orits components as described herein. For example, the operations ofmethod 1700 may be performed by a base station communications manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13. In some examples, abase station 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functionalelements of the device to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, the base station 105 may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1705 the base station 105 may identify a set of AUL resources for aUE 115. The operations of 1705 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1705may be performed by a base station AUL resource manager as describedwith reference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

At 1710 the base station 105 may determine an AUL configuration for theset of AUL resources and one or more AUL receive beams of the basestation 105, where the set of AUL resources is specific to an AULreceive beam of the base station 105. The operations of 1710 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In certainexamples, aspects of the operations of 1710 may be performed by a basestation AUL configuration manager as described with reference to FIGS.10 through 13.

At 1715 the base station 105 may transmit, to the UE 115, the AULconfiguration including an indication of the set of beam-specific AULresources. The operations of 1715 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operationsof 1715 may be performed by a base station AUL configuration manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

At 1720 the base station 105 may determine that the set of beam-specificAUL resources are available for AUL transmissions by the UE 115. Theoperations of 1720 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1720 may beperformed by a base station AUL resource manager as described withreference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

At 1725 the base station 105 may transmit a trigger signal including anindication that the set of beam-specific AUL resources are available forthe AUL transmissions based at least in part on the determination thatthe set of beam-specific AUL resources are available. The operations of1725 may be performed according to the methods described herein. Incertain examples, aspects of the operations of 1725 may be performed bya trigger signal component as described with reference to FIGS. 10through 13.

At 1730 the base station 105 may receive an AUL transmission from the UE115 in accordance with the AUL configuration, where the AUL transmissionis received using the set of beam-specific AUL resources and the AULreceive beam. The operations of 1730 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operationsof 1730 may be performed by an AUL reception component as described withreference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1800 for AUL with analogbeams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Theoperations of method 1800 may be implemented by a UE 115 or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1800 may be performed by a UE communications manager as described withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9. In some examples, a UE 115 may execute aset of codes to control the functional elements of the device to performthe functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the UE115 may perform aspects of the functions described herein usingspecial-purpose hardware.

At 1805 the UE 115 may receive, from a base station 105, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE 115. The operations of 1805 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1805may be performed by a UE AUL configuration manager as described withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1810 the UE 115 may identify uplink data for an AUL transmission tothe base station 105. The operations of 1810 may be performed accordingto the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of theoperations of 1810 may be performed by a data manager as described withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

At 1815 the UE 115 may perform the AUL transmission using the set of AULresources, where a first portion of the AUL transmission comprises asensing signal and a second portion of the AUL transmission comprisesthe uplink data. The operations of 1815 may be performed according tothe methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of theoperations of 1815 may be performed by a AUL transmission component asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1900 for AUL with analogbeams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Theoperations of method 1900 may be implemented by a base station 105 orits components as described herein. For example, the operations ofmethod 1900 may be performed by a base station communications manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13. In some examples, abase station 105 may execute a set of codes to control the functionalelements of the device to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, the base station 105 may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1905 the base station 105 may transmit, to a UE 115, an AULconfiguration including an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE 115. The operations of 1905 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1905may be performed by a base station AUL configuration manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

At 1910 the base station 105 may receive, from the UE 115, an AULtransmission on the set of AUL resources, where a first portion of theAUL transmission comprises a sensing signal and a second portion of theAUL transmission comprises uplink data. The operations of 1910 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In certainexamples, aspects of the operations of 1910 may be performed by an AULreception component as described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13.

At 1915 the base station 105 may determine an AUL receive beam forreceiving the second portion of the AUL transmission, the AUL receivebeam corresponding to the set of AUL resources, where the AUL receivebeam is determined based at least in part on the sensing signal. Theoperations of 1915 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of 1915 may beperformed by a receive beam manager as described with reference to FIGS.10 through 13.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possibleimplementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearrangedor otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunications systems such as code division multiple access (CDMA),time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access(FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), singlecarrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), and other systems.A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such as CDMA2000,Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000,IS-95, and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 Releases may be commonly referredto as CDMA2000 1×, 1×, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is commonly referred to asCDMA2000 1×EV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includesWideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA system mayimplement a radio technology such as Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM).

An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra MobileBroadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE802.20, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS). LTE, LTE-A, and LTE-A Pro are releasesof UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR,and GSM are described in documents from the organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project” (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are describedin documents from an organization named “3rd Generation PartnershipProject 2” (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for thesystems and radio technologies mentioned above as well as other systemsand radio technologies. While aspects of a LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NRsystem may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-APro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, thetechniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro,or NR applications.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g.,several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs115 with service subscriptions with the network provider. A small cellmay be associated with a lower-powered base station 105, as comparedwith a macro cell, and a small cell may operate in the same or different(e.g., licensed, unlicensed, etc.) frequency bands as macro cells. Smallcells may include pico cells, femto cells, and micro cells according tovarious examples. A pico cell, for example, may cover a small geographicarea and may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 with servicesubscriptions with the network provider. A femto cell may also cover asmall geographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted accessby UEs 115 having an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs 115 in aclosed subscriber group (CSG), UEs 115 for users in the home, and thelike). An eNB for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB. An eNBfor a small cell may be referred to as a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, afemto eNB, or a home eNB. An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two,three, four, and the like) cells, and may also support communicationsusing one or multiple component carriers.

The wireless communications system 100 or systems described herein maysupport synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronousoperation, the base stations 105 may have similar frame timing, andtransmissions from different base stations 105 may be approximatelyaligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the base stations 105 mayhave different frame timing, and transmissions from different basestations 105 may not be aligned in time. The techniques described hereinmay be used for either synchronous or asynchronous operations.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any ofa variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsthat may be referenced throughout the above description may berepresented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magneticfields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combinationthereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection withthe disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device (PLD), discretegate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to thenature of software, functions described herein can be implemented usingsoftware executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, orcombinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may alsobe physically located at various positions, including being distributedsuch that portions of functions are implemented at different physicallocations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storagemedia and communication media including any medium that facilitatestransfer of a computer program from one place to another. Anon-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media maycomprise random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flashmemory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othernon-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired programcode means in the form of instructions or data structures and that canbe accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection isproperly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the softwareis transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using acoaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line(DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave,then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, orwireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD),floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce datamagnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items(e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or“one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, alist of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BCor ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “basedon” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions.For example, an exemplary step that is described as “based on conditionA” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, asused herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manneras the phrase “based at least in part on.”

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type maybe distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label, or othersubsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appendeddrawings, describes example configurations and does not represent allthe examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “exemplary” used herein means “serving as an example,instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous overother examples.” The detailed description includes specific details forthe purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques.These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of thedescribed examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the artto make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosurewill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other variations withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is notlimited to the examples and designs described herein but is to beaccorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communication at a userequipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, anautonomous uplink (AUL) configuration comprising an indication of a setof AUL resources for the UE, wherein the set of AUL resources comprise aset of beam-specific AUL resources that is specific to an AUL receivebeam of the base station; identifying uplink data for an AULtransmission to the base station; determining whether the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmission by theUE; and performing the AUL transmission of the uplink data to the basestation using the set of beam-specific AUL resources based at least inpart on a determination that the set of beam-specific AUL resources isavailable for the AUL transmission, wherein the AUL transmissioncomprises an AUL indicator that is multiplexed with the uplink data. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from the basestation, a trigger signal associated with the set of beam-specific AULresources; and determining that the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesis available for the AUL transmission by the UE based at least in parton the trigger signal, wherein the AUL transmission is performed basedon the received trigger signal.
 3. The method of claim 2, whereindetermining that the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available forthe AUL transmission comprises: determining that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available based at least in part on asignal strength of the trigger signal satisfying a threshold.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, wherein determining that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission comprises: decoding thetrigger signal; and determining that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available for the AUL transmission based at least in parton the decoding.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the trigger signalindicates a subset of AUL resources that is available within the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources or indicates a second trigger signalassociated with the set of beam-specific AUL resources, and wherein thesecond trigger signal is used to determine whether the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmission by theUE.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of beam-specific AULresources is time division multiplexed (TDM) with a second set of AULresources, and wherein the second set of AUL resources is specific to asecond AUL receive beam of the base station.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the AUL transmission comprises a first portion and a secondportion, the first portion being non-overlapping with a portion of asecond set of AUL resources and the second portion at least partiallyoverlapping with the second set of AUL resources; and wherein the secondset of AUL resources is specific to a second AUL receive beam of thebase station.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein performing the AULtransmission comprises: transmitting the uplink data within the firstportion and the second portion; and transmitting the AUL indicatorwithin the first portion.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the AULindicator comprises transmission information including an indication ofa priority of the uplink data, a waveform for a physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH), a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a redundancyversion (RV), a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequentuplink data transmission, UE identity information, transmit beaminformation, an indication of a preferred receive beam to be used toreceive AUL transmissions, or a combination thereof.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the transmission information is at least partiallycarried through a scrambling code associated with the AUL indicator, anorthogonal cover code associated with the AUL indicator, a cyclic shiftassociated with the AUL indicator, a frequency comb associated with theAUL indicator, or a combination thereof.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein receiving the AUL configuration comprises: receiving one or moreof: a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising the AULconfiguration, a downlink control information (DCI) comprising the AULconfiguration, or a trigger signal comprising the AUL configuration. 12.A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE),comprising: receiving, from a base station, an autonomous uplink (AUL)configuration comprising an indication of a set of AUL resources for theUE, wherein the set of AUL resources comprise a set of beam-specific AULresources that is specific to an AUL receive beam of the base station;identifying uplink data for an AUL transmission to the base station;determining whether the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablefor the AUL transmission by the UE; and performing the AUL transmissionof the uplink data to the base station using the set of beam-specificAUL resources based at least in part on a determination that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmission,wherein the AUL transmission comprises a first portion and a secondportion, the first portion being non-overlapping with a portion of asecond set of AUL resources and the second portion at least partiallyoverlapping with the second set of AUL resources, and wherein the secondset of AUL resources is specific to a second AUL receive beam of thebase station.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving,from the base station, a trigger signal associated with the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources; and determining that the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmission by theUE based at least in part on the trigger signal, wherein the AULtransmission is performed based on the received trigger signal.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein determining that the set of beam-specificAUL resources is available for the AUL transmission comprises:determining that the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablebased at least in part on a signal strength of the trigger signalsatisfying a threshold.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein determiningthat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission comprises: decoding the trigger signal; and determiningthat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission based at least in part on the decoding.
 16. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the trigger signal indicates a subset of AUL resourcesthat is available within the set of beam-specific AUL resources orindicates a second trigger signal associated with the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources, and wherein the second trigger signal isused to determine whether the set of beam-specific AUL resources isavailable for the AUL transmission by the UE.
 17. The method of claim12, wherein the set of beam-specific AUL resources is time divisionmultiplexed (TDM) with the second set of AUL resources, and wherein thesecond set of AUL resources is specific to the second AUL receive beamof the base station.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein performing theAUL transmission comprises: transmitting the uplink data within thefirst portion and the second portion; and transmitting an AUL indicatorwithin the first portion, wherein the AUL indicator is multiplexed withthe uplink data.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the AUL indicatorcomprises transmission information including an indication of a priorityof the uplink data, a waveform for a physical uplink shared channel(PUSCH), a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a redundancy version(RV), a time/frequency resource allocation for a subsequent uplink datatransmission, UE identity information, transmit beam information, anindication of a preferred receive beam to be used to receive AULtransmissions, or a combination thereof.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the transmission information is at least partially carriedthrough a scrambling code associated with the AUL indicator, anorthogonal cover code associated with the AUL indicator, a cyclic shiftassociated with the AUL indicator, a frequency comb associated with theAUL indicator, or a combination thereof.
 21. The method of claim 12,wherein receiving the AUL configuration comprises: receiving one or moreof: a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising the AULconfiguration, a downlink control information (DCI) comprising the AULconfiguration, or a trigger signal comprising the AUL configuration. 22.An apparatus for wireless communications at a user equipment (UE),comprising: a processor, memory coupled with the processor; andinstructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor tocause the apparatus to: receive, from a base station, an autonomousuplink (AUL) configuration comprising an indication of a set of AULresources for the UE, wherein the set of AUL resources comprise a set ofbeam-specific AUL resources that is specific to an AUL receive beam ofthe base station; identify uplink data for an AUL transmission to thebase station; determine whether the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesis available for the AUL transmission by the UE; and perform the AULtransmission of the uplink data to the base station using the set ofbeam-specific AUL resources based at least in part on a determinationthat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission, wherein the AUL transmission comprises an AUL indicatorthat is multiplexed with the uplink data.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor tocause the apparatus to: receive, from the base station, a trigger signalassociated with the set of beam-specific AUL resources; and determinethat the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission by the UE based at least in part on the trigger signal,wherein the AUL transmission is performed based on the received triggersignal.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the instructions todetermine that the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available forthe AUL transmission further are executable by the processor to causethe apparatus to: determine that the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesis available based at least in part on a signal strength of the triggersignal satisfying a threshold.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23, whereinthe trigger signal indicates a subset of AUL resources that is availablewithin the set of beam-specific AUL resources or indicates a secondtrigger signal associated with the set of beam-specific AUL resources,and wherein the second trigger signal is used to determine whether theset of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AUL transmissionby the UE.
 26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the AUL transmissioncomprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion beingnon-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AUL resources and thesecond portion at least partially overlapping with the second set of AULresources; and wherein the second set of AUL resources is specific to asecond AUL receive beam of the base station.
 27. An apparatus forwireless communications at a user equipment (UE), comprising: aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored inthe memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:receive, from a base station, an autonomous uplink (AUL) configurationcomprising an indication of a set of AUL resources for the UE, whereinthe set of AUL resources comprise a set of beam-specific AUL resourcesthat is specific to an AUL receive beam of the base station; identifyuplink data for an AUL transmission to the base station; determinewhether the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission by the UE; and perform the AUL transmission of the uplinkdata to the base station using the set of beam-specific AUL resourcesbased at least in part on a determination that the set of beam-specificAUL resources is available for the AUL transmission, wherein the AULtransmission comprises a first portion and a second portion, the firstportion being non-overlapping with a portion of a second set of AULresources and the second portion at least partially overlapping with thesecond set of AUL resources, and wherein the second set of AUL resourcesis specific to a second AUL receive beam of the base station.
 28. Theapparatus of claim 27 wherein the instructions are further executable bythe processor to cause the apparatus to: receive, from the base station,a trigger signal associated with the set of beam-specific AUL resources;and determine that the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablefor the AUL transmission by the UE based at least in part on the triggersignal, wherein the AUL transmission is performed based on the receivedtrigger signal.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the instructionsto determine that the set of beam-specific AUL resources is availablefor the AUL transmission further are executable by the processor tocause the apparatus to: determining that the set of beam-specific AULresources is available based at least in part on a signal strength ofthe trigger signal satisfying a threshold.
 30. The apparatus of claim28, wherein the trigger signal indicates a subset of AUL resources thatis available within the set of beam-specific AUL resources or indicatesa second trigger signal associated with the set of beam-specific AULresources, and wherein the second trigger signal is used to determinewhether the set of beam-specific AUL resources is available for the AULtransmission by the UE.